CostIndexUSA

Durham, NC vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Durham
97.6
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Lincoln is moderately cheaper than Durham — 6.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Durham, you would need $75,100 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing14.9%
Durham
98.9
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Durham
96.6
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation5.3%
Durham
103.1
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare5.4%
Durham
93.3
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities14.0%
Durham
89.3
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Durham to see what you'd need to earn in Lincoln to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$75,100
$4,900 less needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 97.6) = salary × 0.9385. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Durham, NC

Median Home Price
$402,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
98.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.3×

Lincoln, NE

Median Home Price
$289,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
84.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Durham has 14.9% lower housing costs compared to Lincoln.

Income & Job Market

Durham, NC

Median Household Income
$83,300
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
278,993
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareEducationResearchFinance

Lincoln, NE

Median Household Income
$71,200
Per Capita Income
$40,600
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Population
289,102
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentFinanceManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Durham, NC
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Lincoln, NE
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.