CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Lincoln is slightly cheaper than Knoxville — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $79,100 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+1.7%
Knoxville
82.8
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries2.2%
Knoxville
96.2
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation2.3%
Knoxville
99.9
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare2.3%
Knoxville
90.4
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities+6.8%
Knoxville
71.9
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$79,100
$900 less needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9892. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Knoxville, TN

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
82.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Lincoln, NE

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

Lincoln has 1.7% higher housing costs compared to Knoxville.

Income & Job Market

Knoxville, TN

Median Household Income
$69,900
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
190,740
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingTourismGovernment

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).

Knoxville, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.