Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and Lincoln, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and Lincoln, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,618 per month in California, MD vs $2,134 in Lincoln, NE, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,757 per month in California, MD vs $3,207 in Lincoln, NE, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,896 per month in California, MD vs $4,281 in Lincoln, NE, rent included.

California, MD costs about 23% more than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both California, MD and Lincoln, NE sit above the global median – California, MD by 91%, Lincoln, NE by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.96 $24.96

$19.81 $19.81

26.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 $74.7

$79.1 $79.1

-5.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 $9.98

$12.03 $12.03

-17.04%

Cappuccino

$6.04 $6.04

$5.54 $5.54

9.03%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.37 $2.37

16.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.75 $1.75

44.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.04 $5.04

1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.71 $7.71

2.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.82 $0.82

21.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.17 $3.17

23.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$6.20 $6.20

-64.19%

Eggs

$3.97 $3.97

$4.70 $4.70

-15.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

$11.71 $11.71

1.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.81 $14.81

$9.16 $9.16

61.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 $13.27

$15.01 $15.01

-11.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$6.72 $6.72

-35.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.36 $2.36

-4.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.10 $6.10

-28.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$4.23 $4.23

55.56%

Potato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.10 $3.10

40.32%

Onion (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.70 $3.70

5.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.88 $1.88

7.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.56 $2.56

-21.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.85 $8.85

$9.97 $9.97

-11.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.08 $14.08

$16.83 $16.83

-16.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.86 $1.86

-9.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 $4.58

$2.54 $2.54

80.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.71 $1.71

21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.6 $80.6

$34.31 $34.31

134.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$5.06 $5.06

-42.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.91 $1.91

-22.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.10 $22.10

$34.32 $34.32

-35.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.88 $0.88

6.82%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$36.1K $36.1K

-9.52%

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

$23.4K $23.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

-7.41%

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

$96.0 $96.0

$126 $126

-23.63%

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

$42.56 $42.56

$50.1 $50.1

-15.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.5 $60.5

$65.5 $65.5

-7.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.62 $40.62

$58.1 $58.1

-30.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.01 $11.01

$27.13 $27.13

-59.42%

Cinema Ticket

$18.14 $18.14

$14.74 $14.74

23.07%

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

$1,899 $1,899

$815 $815

133.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.7K $31.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$50.9 $50.9

4.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 $47.18

$34.49 $34.49

36.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 $85.4

$92.1 $92.1

-7.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$130 $130

-17.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 $1,709

$1,061 $1,061

61.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 $1,324

$899 $899

47.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,767 $1,767

$1,907 $1,907

-7.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,955 $1,955

$1,448 $1,448

35.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,717 $6,717

$1,860 $1,860

261.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,308 $6,308

$1,890 $1,890

233.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,150 $7,150

$3,795 $3,795

88.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

6.03

1.16%

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

Last update for California, MD: September 15, 2026

Last update for Lincoln, NE: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,709 in California, MD versus $1,061 in Lincoln, NE. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 88% higher in California, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in California, MD versus $79.0 in Lincoln, NE. Groceries tell a different story – $408 in California, MD vs $406 in Lincoln, NE – so Lincoln, NE wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

California, MD vs Lincoln, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – California, MD is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,927 per month in California, MD and $3,201 in Lincoln, NE. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lincoln, NE, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in California, MD, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in California, MD and $79.0 in Lincoln, NE. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lincoln, NE, where all-in costs run around $2,134, than in California, MD at $2,618. In Lincoln, NE it covers expenses comfortably, while in California, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lincoln, NE – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lincoln, NE. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, California, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.