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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,134 in Lincoln, NE, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,207 in Lincoln, NE, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,281 in Lincoln, NE, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 46% more than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Lincoln, NE sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Lincoln, NE by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$19.81 $19.81

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$79.1 $79.1

11.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.03 $12.03

7.56%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.37 $2.37

15.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.75 $1.75

34.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.04 $5.04

41.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.71 $7.71

13.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.82 $0.82

63.41%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.17 $3.17

31.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$6.20 $6.20

-7.58%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.70 $4.70

4.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$11.71 $11.71

26.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$9.16 $9.16

62.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$15.01 $15.01

30.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.72 $6.72

-17.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.36 $2.36

-18.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$6.10 $6.10

-31.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.23 $4.23

14.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.10 $3.10

-8.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.70 $3.70

-24.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.88 $1.88

17.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.56 $2.56

19.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$9.97 $9.97

62.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$16.83 $16.83

-11.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.86 $1.86

36.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.54 $2.54

31.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.71 $1.71

49.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$34.31 $34.31

120.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.06 $5.06

-34.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.91 $1.91

-28.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$34.32 $34.32

-26.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.88 $0.88

32.95%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.1K $36.1K

-0.24%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.80%

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

$191 $191

$126 $126

52.24%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$50.1 $50.1

35.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$65.5 $65.5

-5.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$58.1 $58.1

9.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$27.13 $27.13

0.04%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$14.74 $14.74

22.25%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$815 $815

86.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$50.9 $50.9

25.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$34.49 $34.49

60.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$92.1 $92.1

9.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$130 $130

17.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,061 $1,061

126.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$899 $899

83.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$1,907 $1,907

139.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,448 $1,448

91.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$1,860 $1,860

116.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$1,890 $1,890

45.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,795 $3,795

26.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.03

5.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lincoln, NE: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL 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 27% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $79.0 in Lincoln, NE. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $406 – making Lincoln, NE the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Chicago, IL vs Lincoln, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,134 in Lincoln, NE – roughly 46% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL 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 14% more in Chicago, IL, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL 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 Chicago, IL at $3,117. In Lincoln, NE it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,134 in Lincoln, NE to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.