Cost of Living Comparison Between Kearney, NE and Stevens Point, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Kearney, NE and Stevens Point, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,042 in Kearney, NE versus $1,810 in Stevens Point, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,852 in Kearney, NE versus $2,489 in Stevens Point, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,663 in Kearney, NE versus $3,168 in Stevens Point, WI.

Living in Kearney, NE is roughly 13% more expensive than in Stevens Point, WI, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kearney, NE 49% above, Stevens Point, WI 32% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.15 $15.15

$16.20 $16.20

-6.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 $60.9

$67.6 $67.6

-9.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$9.91 $9.91

21.49%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$4.59 $4.59

15.03%

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

$2.12 $2.12

$2.46 $2.46

-13.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.86 $1.86

-7.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.90 $3.90

1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 $4.91

$5.38 $5.38

-8.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.83 $0.83

-2.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.10 $2.10

-23.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.24 $2.24

71.43%

Eggs

$3.56 $3.56

$3.85 $3.85

-7.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.96 $8.96

$10.39 $10.39

-13.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 $6.75

$9.01 $9.01

-25.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$10.90 $10.90

34.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.29 $4.29

8.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.36 $1.36

43.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$2.16 $2.16

168.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.38 $3.38

5.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.66 $1.66

5.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.10 $4.10

-24.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.35 $2.35

-22.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.46 $1.46

80.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$7.84 $7.84

15.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$9.96 $9.96

51.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.77 $2.77

-37.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.76 $1.76

14.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$4.88 $4.88

-40.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.66 $1.66

-18.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.63 $24.63

$24.18 $24.18

1.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.86 $0.86

11.63%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

-1.74%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

10.94%

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

$266 $266

$160 $160

66.03%

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

$66.3 $66.3

$24.86 $24.86

166.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$68.8 $68.8

-0.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 $55.6

$67.4 $67.4

-17.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.14 $6.14

$44.39 $44.39

-86.17%

Cinema Ticket

$12.54 $12.54

$9.14 $9.14

37.20%

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

$974 $974

$795 $795

22.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.4K $19.4K

$35.9K $35.9K

-45.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.78 $29.78

$39.76 $39.76

-25.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.60 $37.60

$39.81 $39.81

-5.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.5 $96.5

$60.3 $60.3

60.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$78.7 $78.7

47.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 $1,010

$960 $960

5.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$869 $869

$790 $790

9.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,517 $1,517

$910 $910

66.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 $1,189

$913 $913

30.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,530 $1,530

$2,033 $2,033

-24.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,558 $1,558

$2,010 $2,010

-22.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,642 $7,642

$2,951 $2,951

158.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.27

-3.03%

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

Last update for Kearney, NE: September 14, 2026

Last update for Stevens Point, WI: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,010 in Kearney, NE and $960 in Stevens Point, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kearney, NE pays 159% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Kearney, NE vs $68.0 in Stevens Point, WI. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $295, with Stevens Point, WI cheaper for home cooking.

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

Kearney, NE vs Stevens Point, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kearney, NE and Stevens Point, WI differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,042 vs $1,810 including rent). Stevens Point, WI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 159% higher in Kearney, NE, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,010 in Kearney, NE versus $960 in Stevens Point, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Kearney, NE. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,042 per month in Kearney, NE versus $1,810 in Stevens Point, WI – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,810 in Stevens Point, WI versus $2,042 in Kearney, NE, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Stevens Point, WI but tight or insufficient in Kearney, NE. The gap between the two cities makes Stevens Point, WI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kearney, NE and Stevens Point, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Stevens Point, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Kearney, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.