Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln, NE and Livingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln, NE and Livingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,981 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,228 in Livingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,102 in Lincoln, NE versus $3,456 in Livingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,224 in Lincoln, NE versus $4,684 in Livingston.

Living in Lincoln, NE costs roughly 11% less than in Livingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lincoln, NE 48% above, Livingston 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.13 $15.13

$20.17 £14.99

-24.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.1 $57.1

$96.2 £71.5

-40.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$9.91 £7.37

21.80%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$4.81 £3.57

4.78%

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

$2.15 $2.15

$2.67 £1.98

-19.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.19 £1.63

-28.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$6.73 £5.00

-24.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 $5.95

$6.63 £4.93

-10.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.64 £1.22

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.65 £1.23

88.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.16 £1.61

154.63%

Eggs

$4.59 $4.59

$3.58 £2.66

28.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 $10.96

$11.03 £8.20

-0.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$9.36 £6.95

14.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.60 $14.60

$16.25 £12.08

-10.15%

Apples (1kg)

$6.11 $6.11

$3.25 £2.42

88.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.64 £1.22

22.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$2.70 £2.01

71.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$3.71 £2.75

21.29%

Potato (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.76 £1.31

149.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$1.49 £1.11

122.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.14 £0.85

63.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.74 £1.29

32.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.70 $9.70

$18.86 £14.02

-48.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.07 $17.07

$10.83 £8.05

57.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.49 £1.85

-29.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.39 £2.52

-3.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.18 £2.36

-44.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.21 $29.21

$74.7 £55.5

-60.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.38 £4.00

28.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.23 £0.92

54.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.40 $35.40

$22.78 £16.93

55.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.98 £1.48

-61.62%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$38.0K £28.2K

-19.89%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$39.9K £29.7K

-37.61%

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

$112 $112

$385 £286

-70.99%

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

$50.6 $50.6

$17.35 £12.90

191.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.9 $64.9

$44.39 £33.00

46.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 $56.2

$60.6 £45.01

-7.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.94 $26.94

$33.72 £25.06

-20.11%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$10.92 £8.11

36.72%

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

$1,095 $1,095

$1,247 £927

-12.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$18.9K £14.1K

23.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.14 $48.14

$104 £77.7

-53.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.43 $35.43

$53.8 £40.00

-34.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 $86.9

$116 £86.2

-25.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 $92.7

$84.1 £62.5

10.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 $1,046

$866 £644

20.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$833 $833

$782 £581

6.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,529 $2,529

$1,931 £1,435

30.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 $1,706

$1,593 £1,184

7.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,897 $1,897

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,909 $1,909

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,787 $3,787

$3,494 £2,597

8.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.7

14.74%

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

Last update for Lincoln, NE: June 1, 2026

Last update for Livingston: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,046 in Lincoln, NE and $866 in Livingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln, NE pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $57.0 in Lincoln, NE vs $96.0 in Livingston. Groceries flip the comparison at $398 vs $315, with Livingston 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

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

Lincoln, NE wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Livingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lincoln, NE the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Lincoln, NE pays 8% more on average, 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: $1,046 in Lincoln, NE versus $866 in Livingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lincoln, NE – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $96.0 in Livingston. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,981 per month in Lincoln, NE versus $2,228 in Livingston – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,981 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,228 in Livingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lincoln, NE but tight or insufficient in Livingston. 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 Livingston 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 12% less than in Livingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.