Juneau vs Lincoln
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Juneau
Lincoln
The Verdict
Living in Lincoln costs 36.6% less than Juneau. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Juneau, you would need $54,921 in Lincoln.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $54,921 in Lincoln.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lincoln equals $102,419 in Juneau.
Living in Juneau vs Lincoln
Housing Costs
Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $264,000. The $260,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,896 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $466/month in Lincoln. Lincoln offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1416/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau vs $372 in Lincoln. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 151 in Juneau and 102 in Lincoln. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 49-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $77,312 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/mo fits within this budget. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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