Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lincoln, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lincoln, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $1,981 in Lincoln, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,102 in Lincoln, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,224 in Lincoln, NE.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 34% more expensive than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Lincoln, NE 48% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$15.13 $15.13

29.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$57.1 $57.1

31.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.07 $12.07

-17.81%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.04 $5.04

12.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.15 $2.15

28.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.57 $1.57

38.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.06 $5.06

15.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$5.95 $5.95

30.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.11 $3.11

9.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.50 $5.50

-37.64%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.59 $4.59

-4.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.96 $10.96

9.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$14.60 $14.60

-2.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$6.11 $6.11

-20.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.01 $2.01

-22.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.64 $4.64

-3.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.50 $4.50

-13.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.39 $4.39

-37.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.31 $3.31

-17.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.86 $1.86

9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.31 $2.31

-2.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$9.70 $9.70

-7.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$17.07 $17.07

-13.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.28 $3.28

8.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.78 $1.78

-17.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$29.21 $29.21

47.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$6.92 $6.92

-38.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.90 $1.90

-3.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$35.40 $35.40

0.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.76 $0.76

-5.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.4K $30.4K

-15.44%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.02%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$174 $174

$112 $112

55.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$50.6 $50.6

19.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$64.9 $64.9

2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$56.2 $56.2

11.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$26.94 $26.94

-63.51%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.93 $14.93

2.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,387 $1,387

$1,095 $1,095

26.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

-4.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$48.14 $48.14

17.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$35.43 $35.43

27.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$86.9 $86.9

-0.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$92.7 $92.7

28.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,046 $1,046

114.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$833 $833

71.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,529 $2,529

49.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,706 $1,706

54.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,897 $1,897

271.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,909 $1,909

65.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,787 $3,787

34.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lincoln, NE: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,046 in Lincoln, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $57.0 in Lincoln, NE. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $398, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Lincoln, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lincoln, NE wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lincoln, NE the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 35% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,046 in Lincoln, NE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,981 in Lincoln, NE – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lincoln, NE runs roughly 47% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,981 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lincoln, NE but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lincoln, NE the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Lincoln, NE are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lincoln, NE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.