Median rent is 46% lower in Lincoln ($1,086/mo vs $2,007/mo). Buying is cheaper in Lincoln, where the median home runs $264,000 versus $566,900. Households earn more in Jersey City ($97,710 vs $71,867 a year).
City A
Jersey City, NJ
City B
Lincoln, NE
How much would you need to earn in Lincoln, NE to maintain your standard of living from Jersey City, NJ?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Jersey City
New Jersey
Lincoln
Nebraska
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Lincoln — median rent of $1,086/mo versus $2,007/mo in Jersey City, a 46% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Jersey City: the median home is $566,900 versus $264,000 in Lincoln — 53% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Jersey City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Lincoln
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Lincoln has cleaner air on average: 32.0 AQI (Good) compared to 46.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Jersey City if you prioritize higher median household income ($97,710/yr).
Pick Lincoln if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,086/mo median).
Pick Lincoln if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 32.0).
Is Jersey City cheaper than Lincoln?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Jersey City vs Lincoln?
Median rent is $2,007/mo in Jersey City, NJ and $1,086/mo in Lincoln, NE. Lincoln, NE has the lower rent by about 46%.
Which has higher salaries — Jersey City or Lincoln?
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City, NJ and $71,867 in Lincoln, NE. Jersey City, NJ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Lincoln, NE has better air quality on average: 32.0 AQI versus 46.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Jersey City or Lincoln?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Lincoln to match my Jersey City income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
