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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lincoln, NE is 17.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 35% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lincoln, NE is 21% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.99 $14.99

$20.82 $20.82

-28.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.9 $57.9

$100 $100

-42.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$11.97 $11.97

2.09%

Cappuccino

$5.17 $5.17

$5.56 $5.56

-7.01%

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

$2.1 $2.1

$3.11 $3.11

-32.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.42 $2.42

-35.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$6.86 $6.86

-26.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.07 $6.07

$8.45 $8.45

-28.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.04 $1.04

-20.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.1 $3.1

$4.15 $4.15

-25.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$5.52 $5.52

-0.54%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.65 $4.65

-4.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.8 $10.8

$14.33 $14.33

-24.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.09 $11.09

$14.88 $14.88

-25.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$19.34 $19.34

-25.59%

Apples (1kg)

$6 $6

$5.17 $5.17

16.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.71 $1.71

18.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$4.41 $4.41

9.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$4.51 $4.51

3.99%

Potato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.53 $2.53

72.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.74 $2.74

20.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.43 $2.43

-22.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.7 $2.7

-17.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.79 $9.79

$15.19 $15.19

-35.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$16.42 $16.42

4.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.35 $2.35

-26.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.7 $3.7

-8.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.8 $1.8

$2.53 $2.53

-28.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.21 $29.21

$74.1 $74.1

-60.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.72 $6.72

$3.34 $3.34

101.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.42 $1.42

32.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.6 $34.6

$25.42 $25.42

36.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.08 $1.08

-28.70%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-5.79%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.15%

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

$113 $113

$188 $188

-40.02%

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

$49.97 $49.97

$63.7 $63.7

-21.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 $64.4

$65.2 $65.2

-1.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 $57.8

$76.7 $76.7

-24.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.58 $26.58

$13.03 $13.03

103.99%

Cinema Ticket

$14.89 $14.89

$14.93 $14.93

-0.27%

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

$1,092 $1,092

$2,063 $2,063

-47.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.44 $49.44

$64.3 $64.3

-23.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 $35.24

$52.4 $52.4

-32.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 $87.5

$95.2 $95.2

-8.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 $93.4

$145 $145

-35.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 $1,038

$2,378 $2,378

-56.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$840 $840

$1,584 $1,584

-47.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,509 $2,509

$4,763 $4,763

-47.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,713 $1,713

$2,815 $2,815

-39.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,885 $1,885

$3,588 $3,588

-47.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,836 $1,836

$2,490 $2,490

-26.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,779 $3,779

$5,275 $5,275

-28.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.6

-0.91%

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

Last update for Lincoln, NE: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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