$40K in Tacoma = $30,175 in Lincoln

Your $40K salary in Tacoma (COL 114) has the same purchasing power as $30,175 in Lincoln (COL 86). Lincoln is cheaper — your money goes 25% further there.

$40K in Tacoma, WA
$2,728/mo take-home
Rent: $1,900/mo (70% of take-home)
Difficult
$30,175/yr in Lincoln, NE
$1,912/mo take-home
Rent: $1,150/mo (60% of take-home)
Difficult

Budget breakdown — $40K in both cities

What $40K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Tacoma
$40K
Lincoln
$40K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,728$2,535
1BR rent$1,900$1,150
Groceries$399$357
Transport$90$48
Utilities$118$152
Internet$63$58
Left after essentials$158/month$770/month
To match your Tacoma purchasing power in Lincoln, you'd need to earn $30,175/year (25% less than $40K). At that salary, you'd have $147/mo left after essentials — vs $158/mo in Tacoma.

Frequently asked questions

What is $40K in Tacoma equivalent to in Lincoln?

$40K in Tacoma (COL index 114) has the same purchasing power as $30,175 in Lincoln (COL index 86). That's 25% less than your current salary.

If I move from Tacoma to Lincoln keeping my $40K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $40K after moving to Lincoln, you'd have $612 more per month after core expenses — because Lincoln is cheaper than Tacoma.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $40K × (86 ÷ 114) = $30,175. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Tacoma to Lincoln

$50K → $37,719$60K → $45,263$75K → $56,579$80K → $60,351$100K → $75,439$120K → $90,526$150K → $113,158
$40K in Lincoln → TacomaMoving from Tacoma to LincolnTacoma vs Lincoln — full comparisonCan I afford Tacoma vs Lincoln on $40K?

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only