Is Pittsburgh cheaper than Lincoln?

No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,299 in Pittsburgh — 12% lower. Median household income is $60,187 in Pittsburgh compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Lincoln has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Pittsburgh or Lincoln?

Lincoln is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 75 in Pittsburgh — 7% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Pittsburgh or Lincoln?

School composites are close: A- in Pittsburgh and A- in Lincoln. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Pittsburgh, PA vs Lincoln, NE

Pittsburgh, PA versus Lincoln, NE is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,299 a month in Pittsburgh and $1,141 in Lincoln, and median household income lands at $60,187 versus $67,846. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Pittsburgh takes weather, while Lincoln takes affordability, job market, and safety. The widest gap is typical weather, where Pittsburgh leads by 26% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Pittsburgh can feel further apart than Pittsburgh and Lincoln do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Pittsburgh and Lincoln reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Pittsburgh report Full Lincoln report

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent: $1,299/mo
Median income: $60,187
Crime index: 75
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Lincoln, NE

Rent: $1,141/mo
Median income: $67,846
Crime index: 70
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

12% cheaper

Lincoln rent is 12% cheaper than Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

$1,299/mo

Lincoln

Winner

$1,141/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,141 a month in Lincoln versus $1,299 in Pittsburgh, so Lincoln is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,896 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lincoln still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Pittsburgh.

Median income

13% higher

Lincoln's median income is 13% higher than Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

$60,187

Lincoln

Winner

$67,846

What this means for your life

Median household income is $67,846 in Lincoln versus $60,187 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Lincoln — about $7,659 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Lincoln is the stronger labor market on paper. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

7% lower crime

Lincoln's crime index is 7% lower than Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

75 (100 = avg)

Lincoln

Winner

70 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Lincoln's crime index is 70 versus 75 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Lincoln. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Lincoln, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Pittsburgh. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Pittsburgh and Lincoln are about even on school scores.

Pittsburgh

A- · 84/100

Lincoln

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Pittsburgh, A- in Lincoln). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

26% more comfortable

Pittsburgh weather is 26% more comfortable than Lincoln

Pittsburgh

Winner

69°F typical

Lincoln

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Pittsburgh scores 26% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Pittsburgh and 79°F in Lincoln. Pittsburgh reads as mild, livable temperatures; Lincoln reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Pittsburgh is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Lincoln can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Pittsburgh

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Pick Pittsburgh if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (69°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 26%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Pittsburgh is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Pittsburgh report →

Fit check

Who should choose Lincoln

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,141 a month. Choose Lincoln if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Lincoln is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($67,846). Start with Lincoln if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Lincoln is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than Pittsburgh (70 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Lincoln report →

Bottom line

Pittsburgh vs Lincoln, called

If weather is your priority, Pittsburgh is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Lincoln pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Lincoln offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Pittsburgh vs Lincoln FAQ

Is Pittsburgh cheaper than Lincoln?: No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,299 in Pittsburgh — 12% lower. Median household income is $60,187 in Pittsburgh compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Lincoln has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Pittsburgh or Lincoln?: Lincoln is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 75 in Pittsburgh — 7% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Pittsburgh or Lincoln?: School composites are close: A- in Pittsburgh and A- in Lincoln. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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