Performance
Score Breakdown
Lincoln
New York City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
New York City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
175% higher compared to Lincoln.
Housing costs are a major driver: Lincoln's average rent is
60% lower than New York City's.
| Metric | Lincoln | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,363 | $3,382 | -60% |
| Groceries | $400 | $520 | -23% |
| Utilities | $260 | $370 | -30% |
| Transport | $1,200 | $130 | +823% |
| Healthcare | $9,572 | $250 | +3729% |
| Monthly Total | $12,795 | $4,652 | +175% |
| Cost Index | 94 | 178 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 29% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Lincoln delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Lincoln is estimated at
$52,000 vs $61,000 in New York City.
| Metric | Lincoln | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,867 | $100,877 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $61,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 76,454 idx | 56,672 idx |
| Household Income | $71,867 | $80,483 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Lincoln | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 65.00% | 63.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Lincoln has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
12,500 minutes (208 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Lincoln | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 43 min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/10 | 88.0/10 |
| Walkability | 50.0/10 | 89.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 167.60 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Low |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Lincoln is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Lincoln has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Lincoln | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 303,375 | 8,585,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.61% | % |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 2.60% | 4.90% |
| GDP | $150.9B | $1,354.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Lincoln
Advantages
Lincoln's cost of living is approximately 6% lower than the national average, driven by more affordable housing and utilities.
The city boasts a low unemployment rate of 2.6% as of May 2026, significantly lower than the national average.
Lincoln has a shorter average commute time of 19.5 minutes, saving residents time compared to the national average.
The city is recognized for its exceptional public safety, with Part 1 crime reaching a 25-year low in 2025.
Over 40% of adults in Lincoln have a bachelor's degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Drawbacks
While overall cost of living is lower, healthcare costs in Lincoln are about 3% higher than the U.S. average.
Lincoln's employment and wage growth rates have been nearly identical to Omaha's, which have been slower than comparable cities.
Public transportation options, while affordable, have a limited reach around the city.
The state of Nebraska, including Lincoln, has experienced low population and labor force growth due to people relocating to other states.
Some goods and services in Lincoln are approximately 4% pricier than the national average.
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Lincoln
#21Nebraska, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,363
Avg Salary
$71,867
Cost Index
94
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
40.0/10
Walkability
50.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.61%
Unemployment
2.60%
Livability
74
Business
68
New York City
#64New York, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/10
Walkability
89.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
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