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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,987 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,196 in Winnipeg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,092 in Lincoln, NE versus $3,175 in Winnipeg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,196 in Lincoln, NE versus $4,154 in Winnipeg.

Living in Lincoln, NE costs roughly 9% less than in Winnipeg, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lincoln, NE 49% above, Winnipeg 64% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lincoln, NE
Winnipeg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.15 $15.15
$16.51 CA$23.14
-8.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 $58.1
$65.9 CA$92.3
-11.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.19 $12.19
$11.00 CA$15.43
10.82%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$3.88 CA$5.43
28.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.32 CA$3.25
-5.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.78 CA$2.49
-11.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.01 $5.01
$5.22 CA$7.31
-4.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 $5.91
$6.69 CA$9.38
-11.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lincoln, NE
Winnipeg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.55 CA$2.18
-50.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 $3.19
$2.30 CA$3.23
38.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.59 $5.59
$3.33 CA$4.67
67.87%
Eggs
$4.60 $4.60
$3.18 CA$4.47
44.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.71 $10.71
$11.05 CA$15.49
-3.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.93 $10.93
$11.55 CA$16.19
-5.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.81 $14.81
$18.41 CA$25.81
-19.55%
Apples (1kg)
$5.90 $5.90
$3.89 CA$5.46
51.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.31 CA$1.84
50.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$3.60 CA$5.04
28.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.62 $4.62
$3.44 CA$4.82
34.30%
Potato (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$2.77 CA$3.89
53.07%
Onion (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$2.48 CA$3.47
34.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.51 CA$3.52
-24.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.56 CA$2.18
46.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.03 $10.03
$16.38 CA$22.97
-38.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.68 $16.68
$11.82 CA$16.57
41.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$3.20 CA$4.48
-44.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$3.61 CA$5.06
-9.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lincoln, NE
Winnipeg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.80 $1.80
$2.32 CA$3.26
-22.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.63 $28.63
$83.2 CA$117
-65.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.85 $6.85
$3.13 CA$4.39
118.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.26 CA$1.76
50.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.96 $34.96
$26.96 CA$37.79
29.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.03 CA$1.44
-24.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$24.9K CA$34.9K
20.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$21.6K CA$30.3K
15.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lincoln, NE
Winnipeg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 $111
$157 CA$220
-29.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.01 $49.01
$42.15 CA$59.1
16.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$62.8 CA$88.0
1.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lincoln, NE
Winnipeg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 $55.9
$41.84 CA$58.7
33.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.16 $27.16
$34.28 CA$48.06
-20.77%
Cinema Ticket
$15.08 $15.08
$12.63 CA$17.71
19.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lincoln, NE
Winnipeg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,082 $1,082
$966 CA$1,354
12.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K $23.0K
$12.3K CA$17.2K
87.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lincoln, NE
Winnipeg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.17 $49.17
$47.22 CA$66.2
4.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 $35.39
$40.99 CA$57.5
-13.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$78.3 CA$110
11.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.0 $93.0
$111 CA$156
-16.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lincoln, NE
Winnipeg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,040 $1,040
$947 CA$1,327
9.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$840 $840
$997 CA$1,398
-15.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,468 $2,468
$1,545 CA$2,166
59.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 $1,677
$1,558 CA$2,184
7.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,870 $1,870
$2,347 CA$3,290
-20.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,926 $1,926
$2,340 CA$3,280
-17.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lincoln, NE
Winnipeg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,779 $3,779
$2,520 CA$3,534
49.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.02
8.64%

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

Last update for Lincoln, NE: July 11, 2026

Last update for Winnipeg: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,040 in Lincoln, NE and $947 in Winnipeg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln, NE pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $58.0 in Lincoln, NE vs $66.0 in Winnipeg. Groceries flip the comparison at $398 vs $359, with Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lincoln, NE or Winnipeg?
Lincoln, NE wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Winnipeg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lincoln, NE the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lincoln, NE or in Winnipeg?
Average pay runs 50% higher in Lincoln, NE, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lincoln, NE compared to Winnipeg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,040 in Lincoln, NE versus $947 in Winnipeg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lincoln, NE and in Winnipeg?
Dining out is cheaper in Lincoln, NE – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $66.0 in Winnipeg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lincoln, NE compared to Winnipeg?
All in, you'll spend $1,987 per month in Lincoln, NE versus $2,196 in Winnipeg – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lincoln, NE or in Winnipeg?
At $1,987 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,196 in Winnipeg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lincoln, NE but tight or insufficient in Winnipeg. The gap between the two cities makes Lincoln, NE the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Lincoln, NE or Winnipeg?
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.
How safe is Lincoln, NE compared to Winnipeg?
Safety-wise, Lincoln, NE and Winnipeg are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lincoln, NE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Winnipeg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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