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 $2,544 per month in California, MD vs $1,971 in Lincoln, NE, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,683 per month in California, MD vs $3,121 in Lincoln, NE, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,821 per month in California, MD vs $4,271 in Lincoln, NE, rent included.

California, MD costs about 29% more than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both California, MD and Lincoln, NE sit above the global median – California, MD by 90%, Lincoln, NE by 47%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.97 $8.97

$15.17 $15.17

-40.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.6 $80.6

$58.6 $58.6

37.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 $10.08

$12.20 $12.20

-17.38%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$4.99 $4.99

14.23%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.12 $2.12

29.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.58 $1.58

48.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.87 $4.87

9.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$5.88 $5.88

20.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.78 $0.78

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.16 $3.16

-3.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$5.54 $5.54

-61.01%

Eggs

$5.05 $5.05

$4.51 $4.51

11.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 $13.19

$10.69 $10.69

23.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.40 $10.40

$10.81 $10.81

-3.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.18 $11.18

$14.79 $14.79

-24.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$6.06 $6.06

-27.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.96 $1.96

-6.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.76 $4.76

-6.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$4.50 $4.50

48.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.33 $4.33

-21.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.38 $3.38

-21.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.80 $1.80

13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.21 $2.21

-9.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.14 $9.14

$9.62 $9.62

-4.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.88 $13.88

$18.15 $18.15

-23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.37 $3.37

45.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.79 $1.79

16.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.5 $81.5

$28.76 $28.76

183.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 $3.92

$6.84 $6.84

-42.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.89 $1.89

-29.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.41 $29.41

$35.61 $35.61

-17.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.82 $0.82

7.32%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$30.7K $30.7K

-5.46%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$24.9K $24.9K

-5.22%

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

$208 $208

$112 $112

84.92%

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

$42.75 $42.75

$50.2 $50.2

-14.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$63.6 $63.6

10.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.74 $39.74

$56.4 $56.4

-29.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.95 $10.95

$26.41 $26.41

-58.54%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$15.20 $15.20

-2.63%

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

$2,200 $2,200

$1,095 $1,095

100.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$23.8K $23.8K

1.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 $54.7

$49.61 $49.61

10.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.26 $48.26

$34.89 $34.89

38.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$86.7 $86.7

11.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$93.1 $93.1

46.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,732 $1,732

$1,024 $1,024

69.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,300 $1,300

$832 $832

56.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,427 $2,427

$2,480 $2,480

-2.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,104 $2,104

$1,686 $1,686

24.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,848 $6,848

$1,907 $1,907

259.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,224 $6,224

$1,863 $1,863

234.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,923 $6,923

$3,823 $3,823

81.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.54

-0.92%

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

Last update for California, MD: April 20, 2026

Last update for Lincoln, NE: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,732 in California, MD versus $1,024 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 81% 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 $81 in California, MD versus $59 in Lincoln, NE. Groceries tell a different story – $372 in California, MD vs $399 in Lincoln, NE – so California, MD 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 29%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,816 per month in California, MD and $2,956 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in California, MD – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in California, MD and $59.0 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 $1,971, than in California, MD at $2,544. 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.