Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cookeville, TN and Lincoln

For one person, living is cheaper in Lincoln: $2,203 a month against $2,393 in Cookeville, TN, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cookeville, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,393
/mo nomad
Lincoln
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,203
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cookeville, TN and in Lincoln

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cookeville, TN and in Lincoln actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,393 per month in Cookeville, TN vs $2,203 in Lincoln, rent included.

  • Cookeville, TN $2,393
  • Lincoln $2,203

A couple spends around $3,623 per month in Cookeville, TN vs $3,290 in Lincoln, rent included.

  • Cookeville, TN $3,623
  • Lincoln $3,290

A family of three spends $4,853 per month in Cookeville, TN vs $4,376 in Lincoln, rent included.

  • Cookeville, TN $4,853
  • Lincoln $4,376

Cookeville, TN costs about 9% more than Lincoln, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cookeville, TN and Lincoln sit above the global median – Cookeville, TN by 77%, Lincoln by 63%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cookeville, TN
Lincoln
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.38 $21.38
$26.70 £20.03
-19.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.8 $50.8
$85.8 £64.4
-40.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.01 $8.01
$8.14 £6.11
-1.60%
Cappuccino
$3.94 $3.94
$4.98 £3.74
-20.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.64 £1.98
0.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.97 £1.48
-10.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 $5.05
$6.70 £5.03
-24.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 $4.57
$6.58 £4.94
-30.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cookeville, TN
Lincoln
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.40 £1.05
-42.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.49 £1.12
83.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.68 $7.68
$1.34 £1.01
473.13%
Eggs
$3.36 $3.36
$3.36 £2.52
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.40 $19.40
$8.31 £6.23
133.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.05 $9.05
$8.59 £6.44
5.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.68 $17.68
$11.39 £8.54
55.22%
Apples (1kg)
$9.70 $9.70
$3.48 £2.61
178.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.20 £0.90
80.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$3.11 £2.33
-31.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$3.65 £2.74
-39.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.47 £1.10
52.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.16 £0.87
85.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.04 £0.78
176.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.35 £1.02
117.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.08 $9.08
$23.57 £17.68
-61.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.38 $12.38
$10.50 £7.88
17.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$3.18 £2.39
-44.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.95 $7.95
$3.59 £2.69
121.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Cookeville, TN
Lincoln
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$4.15 £3.12
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$107 £80.3
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.88 £2.91
50.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 $0.64
$0.71 £0.54
-9.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$19.84 £14.89
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$2.06 £1.54
-61.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$38.6K £28.9K
-28.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$40.4K £30.3K
-32.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cookeville, TN
Lincoln
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$322 $322
$304 £228
5.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.81 $45.81
$17.07 £12.81
168.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.7 $85.7
$40.02 £30.02
114.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cookeville, TN
Lincoln
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.21 $35.21
$26.70 £20.03
31.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.96 $37.96
$21.35 £16.01
77.80%
Cinema Ticket
$14.15 $14.15
$15.55 £11.66
-9.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cookeville, TN
Lincoln
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$827 $827
$1,831 £1,373
-54.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$20.6K £15.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cookeville, TN
Lincoln
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.50 $44.50
$115 £85.9
-61.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.06 $45.06
$58.6 £43.98
-23.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 $133
$84.9 £63.7
56.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$99.3 £74.5
40.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cookeville, TN
Lincoln
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 $1,115
$1,078 £809
3.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$986 $986
$854 £640
15.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,520 $2,520
$1,936 £1,453
30.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,987 $1,987
$1,426 £1,070
39.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,242 $2,242
$2,503 £1,878
-10.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,254 $2,254
$1,220 £916
84.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cookeville, TN
Lincoln
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,307 £2,481
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
4.88
35.66%

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

Last update for Cookeville, TN: October 20, 2026

Last update for Lincoln: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cookeville, TN
$986
Lincoln
$854 13.4% $132
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cookeville, TN
$453
Lincoln
$361 20.4% $92
Groceries & Markets
Cookeville, TN
$424
Lincoln
$276 34.9% $148
Eating Out
Cookeville, TN
$294
Lincoln
$363 23.2% $68
Clothing & Footwear
Cookeville, TN
$163
Lincoln
$161 1.2% $2
Sport & Entertainment
Cookeville, TN
$64
Lincoln
$58 9% $5.7
Getting Around
Cookeville, TN
$9 *
Lincoln
$131 1355% $122

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Cookeville, TN versus $1,078 in Lincoln. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Cookeville, TN versus $86.0 in Lincoln. Groceries tell a different story – $424 in Cookeville, TN vs $276 in Lincoln – so Lincoln wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cookeville, TN
🇬🇧 Lincoln
🕒 Local time
05:20 5:20 AM
11:20 11:20 AM
6 h ahead of Cookeville, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,340
97,541
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cookeville, TN Lincoln 6,560 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cookeville, TN
  • Lincoln

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cookeville, TN vs Lincoln: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cookeville, TN or Lincoln?
Cookeville, TN costs about 9% more than Lincoln, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cookeville, TN and in Lincoln?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,590 per month in Cookeville, TN and $3,305 in Lincoln. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cookeville, TN or Lincoln?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lincoln, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Cookeville, TN and in Lincoln?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Cookeville, TN and $86.0 in Lincoln. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cookeville, TN or in Lincoln?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Cookeville, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Cookeville, TN or in Lincoln?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lincoln, where all-in costs run around $2,203, than in Cookeville, TN at $2,393. In Lincoln it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cookeville, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Lincoln – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Cookeville, TN compared to Lincoln?
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.
Should I move to Cookeville, TN or to Lincoln?
If budget matters most, go with Lincoln. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cookeville, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Cookeville, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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