Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln, NE and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Lincoln, NE: $2,207 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

108

Cost of Living Index in Lincoln, NE
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Lincoln, NE Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Lincoln, NE

🇺🇸 United States

$2,207

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lincoln, NE and in Austin, TX

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,207 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Lincoln, NE $2,207
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,295 in Lincoln, NE versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Lincoln, NE $3,295
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,383 in Lincoln, NE versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Lincoln, NE $4,383
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Lincoln, NE costs roughly 17% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lincoln, NE 63% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.11 $20.11

$20.77 $20.77

-3.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.5 $81.5

$84.6 $84.6

-3.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$12.32 $12.32

-0.81%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

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

$2.36 $2.36

$3.72 $3.72

-36.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.50 $2.50

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$8.05 $8.05

-39.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.97 $8.97

$9.01 $9.01

-0.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.12 $1.12

-15.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.75 $3.75

-14.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$3.26 $3.26

92.64%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.17 $4.17

11.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.53 $11.53

$12.90 $12.90

-10.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.38 $8.38

$14.16 $14.16

-40.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.07 $15.07

$16.22 $16.22

-7.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$4.33 $4.33

53.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.46 $1.46

47.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.51 $4.51

29.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.34 $4.34

1.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.58 $2.58

32.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.35 $2.35

61.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.78 $1.78

6.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.22 $2.22

20.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 $9.94

$9.88 $9.88

0.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.20 $17.20

$15.08 $15.08

14.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.92 $2.92

-38.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$3.46 $3.46

-27.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.49 $1.49

14.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.47 $34.47

$41.72 $41.72

-17.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.73 $2.73

80.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.66 $1.66

15.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.73 $34.73

$35.30 $35.30

-1.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.95 $0.95

8.42%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.0K $36.0K

-1.68%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.1K $27.1K

-5.48%

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

$143 $143

$229 $229

-37.52%

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

$47.95 $47.95

$59.4 $59.4

-19.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$69.9 $69.9

-7.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 $54.8

$57.2 $57.2

-4.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.71 $26.71

$16.33 $16.33

63.56%

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 $15.27

$14.28 $14.28

6.93%

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

$825 $825

$1,506 $1,506

-45.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.65 $48.65

$52.8 $52.8

-7.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.76 $34.76

$43.82 $43.82

-20.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 $88.5

$84.8 $84.8

4.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$103 $103

12.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,064 $1,064

$1,907 $1,907

-44.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$951 $951

$1,274 $1,274

-25.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,607 $1,607

$3,664 $3,664

-56.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,490 $1,490

$2,538 $2,538

-41.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,848 $1,848

$7,614 $7,614

-75.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,873 $1,873

$3,157 $3,157

-40.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,728 $3,728

$5,121 $5,121

-27.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

6.79

-6.19%

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

Last update for Lincoln, NE: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Lincoln, NE

$951 43.1%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 33.9% $323

Groceries & Markets

Lincoln, NE

$405 18.3%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 0% $0

Eating Out

Lincoln, NE

$324 14.7%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 9.3% $30

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Lincoln, NE

$256 11.6%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 40% $102

Clothing & Footwear

Lincoln, NE

$130 5.9%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 1.3% $1.6

Sport & Entertainment

Lincoln, NE

$85 3.9%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 0.5% $0.4

Getting Around

Lincoln, NE

$56 2.5%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 5.2% $2.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,064 in Lincoln, NE and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 37% 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: $82.0 in Lincoln, NE vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $405 per month, with Lincoln, NE cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Lincoln, NE

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

08:22 8:22 AM

Same time as Lincoln, NE

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

277,348

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Lincoln, NE Austin, TX 1,180 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Lincoln, NE
Austin, TX

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

Lincoln, NE vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lincoln, NE wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lincoln, NE the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,064 in Lincoln, NE versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,207 per month in Lincoln, NE versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lincoln, NE runs roughly 21% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,207 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lincoln, NE but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lincoln, NE 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, Lincoln, NE and Austin, TX 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 Lincoln, NE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.