Cost of Living Comparison Between Derby and Lincoln Cost of Living Comparison Between Derby and Lincoln

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,193 per month in Derby vs $2,288 in Lincoln, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,278 per month in Derby vs $3,366 in Lincoln, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,364 per month in Derby vs $4,444 in Lincoln, rent included.

Derby is about 4% cheaper than Lincoln, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Derby and Lincoln sit above the global median – Derby by 64%, Lincoln by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.87 £18.49

$27.59 £20.51

-9.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.4 £61.3

$76.0 £56.5

8.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 £8.09

$10.34 £7.68

5.22%

Cappuccino

$5.08 £3.77

$5.41 £4.02

-6.10%

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

$2.34 £1.74

$2.26 £1.68

3.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 £1.21

$1.57 £1.17

3.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.20 £4.61

$6.91 £5.13

-10.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 £4.12

$6.59 £4.90

-15.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 £1.09

$1.48 £1.10

-0.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 £1.05

$1.47 £1.09

-4.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 £1.85

$1.32 £0.98

87.88%

Eggs

$3.86 £2.87

$3.40 £2.52

13.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 £7.08

$9.15 £6.80

4.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.98 £6.67

$9.08 £6.75

-1.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 £9.85

$11.87 £8.82

11.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 £3.52

$3.86 £2.87

22.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 £2.08

$1.24 £0.92

125.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 £2.21

$2.85 £2.12

4.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.11 £2.31

$3.07 £2.28

1.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 £0.74

$0.98 £0.73

1.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 £1.25

$1.64 £1.22

2.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 £0.80

$1.24 £0.92

-12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 £1.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.37 £13.65

$18.84 £14.00

-2.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.12 £7.52

$10.21 £7.59

-0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 £1.93

$3.87 £2.87

-32.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 £2.34

$3.16 £2.35

-0.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.67 £1.98

$4.42 £3.28

-39.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.0 £69.9

$87.8 £65.3

7.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 £3.45

$4.13 £3.07

12.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 £1.13

$1.53 £1.14

-0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.58 £18.27

$47.13 £35.03

-47.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 £1.44

$1.98 £1.47

-2.53%

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

$39.0K £29.0K

$34.1K £25.4K

14.17%

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

$40.7K £30.2K

$40.8K £30.3K

-0.36%

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

$352 £262

$313 £233

12.45%

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

$15.45 £11.49

$15.51 £11.53

-0.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.83 £35.56

$46.54 £34.60

2.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.95 £34.15

$43.31 £32.19

6.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.13 £18.68

$18.75 £13.93

34.03%

Cinema Ticket

$15.38 £11.43

$16.05 £11.93

-4.17%

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

$1,852 £1,377

$1,848 £1,374

0.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K £15.4K

$20.8K £15.4K

-0.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$119 £88.3

$108 £80.3

9.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.5 £44.21

$43.51 £32.34

36.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.4 £60.5

$78.6 £58.4

3.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.4 £73.9

$102 £75.5

-2.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$796 £592

$1,105 £822

-27.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 £546

$868 £645

-15.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,455 £1,082

$1,948 £1,448

-25.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 £1,007

$1,466 £1,090

-7.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,743 £4,269

$2,594 £1,928

121.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,132 £2,328

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,742 £2,782

$3,247 £2,414

15.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.56

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

Last update for Derby: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lincoln: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $796 in Derby versus $1,105 in Lincoln. 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 15% higher in Derby, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Derby versus $76.0 in Lincoln. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $285 – making Lincoln 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

Derby vs Lincoln: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lincoln costs about 4% more than Derby, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,289 per month in Derby and $3,432 in Lincoln. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,852 per month in Derby and $1,848 in Lincoln. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Lincoln – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Derby, where all-in costs run around $2,193, than in Lincoln at $2,288. In Derby it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lincoln it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Derby – 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 Derby. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lincoln makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.