CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Lincoln is moderately cheaper than Charleston — 9.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $72,600 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing29.7%
Charleston
119.8
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries2.3%
Charleston
96.3
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation5.4%
Charleston
103.2
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare5.5%
Charleston
93.4
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities12.9%
Charleston
88.2
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$72,600
$7,400 less needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.9069. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, SC

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
119.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Lincoln, NE

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

Charleston has 29.7% lower housing costs compared to Lincoln.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, SC

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
150,227
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareTechnologyManufacturing

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).

Charleston, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.