Median rent is 44% lower in Lincoln ($1,045/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Lincoln, where the median home runs $248,200 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $69,991 a year).
City A
Lincoln, NE
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Lincoln, NE?
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 city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Lincoln
Nebraska
Los Angeles
California
👥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: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Lincoln — median rent of $1,045/mo versus $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, a 44% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $248,200 in Lincoln — 72% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Nebraska's top income tax rate is 5.84% versus 13.30% in California, so Lincoln is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 5.50% in Nebraska and 7.25% in California; Lincoln has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Lincoln
Income tax: 5.84%
Sales tax: 5.50%
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Lincoln has cleaner air on average: 28.0 AQI (Good) compared to 77.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,366/yr).
Pick Lincoln if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,045/mo median).
Pick Lincoln if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 28.0).
Pick Lincoln if you prioritize lower state income tax (5.84%).
Is Lincoln cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Lincoln vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $1,045/mo in Lincoln, NE and $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Lincoln, NE has the lower rent by about 44%.
Which has higher salaries — Lincoln or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles, CA 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: 28.0 AQI versus 77.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Lincoln or Los Angeles?
Nebraska's top income tax rate is 5.84% and California's is 13.30%. Lincoln, NE has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match my Lincoln income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology