CostIndexUSA

Lincoln, NE vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Lincoln — 8.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lincoln, you would need $73,000 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−49.2%
Lincoln
84.2
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lincoln
94.1
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Lincoln
97.6
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.9%
Lincoln
88.3
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−6.0%
Lincoln
76.8
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$73,000
$7,000 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 0.9127. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lincoln, NE

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

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Lincoln has 49.2% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Lincoln, NE

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Lincoln, NE
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Lincoln vs other cities

Lincoln, NE
vs
Omaha, NE
Index: 91.6Index: 91.9
Lincoln, NE
vs
Anchorage, AK
Index: 91.6Index: 105.4
Lincoln, NE
vs
Jersey City, NJ
Index: 91.6Index: 112.6
Lincoln, NE
vs
Plano, TX
Index: 91.6Index: 103.1
Lincoln, NE
vs
Greensboro, NC
Index: 91.6Index: 92.9

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.