Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lincoln, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lincoln, NE

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.5% more expensive than Lincoln, NE without rent, and 53.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 26.6% more expensive than Lincoln, NE without rent, and 48.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.99 $14.99

38.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$57.9 $57.9

73.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.22 $12.22

-2.05%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.17 $5.17

7.54%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.1 $2.1

48.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.57 $1.57

54.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.07 $5.07

35.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.07 $6.07

39.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.83 $0.83

25.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.1 $3.1

33.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.49 $5.49

0.55%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.42 $4.42

5.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.8 $10.8

32.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.09 $11.09

34.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.39 $14.39

34.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6 $6

-13.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.03 $2.03

-15.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.82 $4.82

-8.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.69 $4.69

-3.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.36 $4.36

-41.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.31 $3.31

-17.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.88 $1.88

29.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.23 $2.23

21.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.79 $9.79

55.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.15 $17.15

-4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.73 $1.73

35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.38 $3.38

9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.8 $1.8

40.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$29.21 $29.21

153.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.72 $6.72

-50.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.88 $1.88

-24.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$34.6 $34.6

-26.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.77 $0.77

40.26%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.5K $30.5K

6.15%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.43%

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

$188 $188

$113 $113

66.73%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.97 $49.97

27.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$64.4 $64.4

1.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$57.8 $57.8

32.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$26.58 $26.58

-50.98%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.89 $14.89

0.27%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,092 $1,092

88.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

65.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.44 $49.44

30.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$35.24 $35.24

48.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.5 $87.5

8.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$93.4 $93.4

54.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,038 $1,038

129.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$840 $840

88.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,509 $2,509

89.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,713 $1,713

64.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,885 $1,885

90.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,836 $1,836

35.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,779 $3,779

39.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lincoln, NE: October 28, 2025

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