Uprootmap
Chicago vs Lincoln
Chicago and Lincoln
Photo: Hanyou23 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Lincoln are under the US rate in this release, 2.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Lincoln
In 2022-2023, 39 households filed a move from Chicago to Lincoln (about 68 people, average adjusted gross income $81,538). 83 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $993 in Lincoln. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Lincoln has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Lincoln is 89% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Lincoln averages 228 sunny days, with July highs around 86°F and January nights around 18°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 19 minutes in Lincoln and 33 in Chicago.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 39 households moved Chicago → Lincoln (about 68 people, average AGI $81,538). 83 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Chicago and Lincoln changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 568 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,150–$4,050
- Container or pod
- $1,500–$2,800
- Rent a truck
- $700–$1,350
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Dig into Lincoln
Questions
Is Lincoln cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Lincoln leaves about $938 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $993 in Lincoln.
Does Lincoln have state income tax?
Lincoln is in Nebraska, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Lincoln?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.