CostIndexUSA

Lincoln, NE vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
PA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lincoln is slightly cheaper than Scranton — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lincoln, you would need $81,700 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.4%
Lincoln
84.2
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+7.0%
Lincoln
94.1
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation+5.1%
Lincoln
97.6
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.1%
Lincoln
88.3
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+38.7%
Lincoln
76.8
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$81,700
$1,700 more needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 1.0218. 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×

Scranton, PA

Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
67
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Lincoln has 20.4% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

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

Scranton, PA

Median Household Income
$58,800
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
76,997
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

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)

Scranton, PA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.