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: $1,981 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,188 in Winnipeg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,102 in Lincoln, NE versus $3,222 in Winnipeg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,224 in Lincoln, NE versus $4,257 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 48% above, Winnipeg 63% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.13 $15.13

$16.34 CA$22.62

-7.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.1 $57.1

$65.7 CA$91.0

-13.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.17 CA$15.46

8.06%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$3.92 CA$5.43

28.57%

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

$2.15 $2.15

$2.23 CA$3.09

-3.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.86 CA$2.58

-15.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$5.46 CA$7.56

-7.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 $5.95

$6.44 CA$8.92

-7.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.53 CA$2.12

-46.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.21 CA$3.06

40.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.33 CA$4.61

65.17%

Eggs

$4.59 $4.59

$3.34 CA$4.63

37.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 $10.96

$10.68 CA$14.78

2.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$11.80 CA$16.34

-8.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.60 $14.60

$18.49 CA$25.60

-21.04%

Apples (1kg)

$6.11 $6.11

$4.00 CA$5.55

52.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.37 CA$1.90

46.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$3.61 CA$5.00

28.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$3.43 CA$4.75

31.20%

Potato (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.69 CA$3.72

63.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.53 CA$3.50

30.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.43 CA$3.36

-23.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.52 CA$2.10

51.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.70 $9.70

$16.09 CA$22.28

-39.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.07 $17.07

$13.09 CA$18.13

30.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$3.22 CA$4.46

-45.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.54 CA$4.91

-7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.43 CA$3.36

-26.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.21 $29.21

$84.5 CA$117

-65.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 $6.92

$3.25 CA$4.50

112.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.25 CA$1.73

52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.40 $35.40

$26.62 CA$36.86

32.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.03 CA$1.43

-26.21%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$24.9K CA$34.4K

22.37%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$21.8K CA$30.1K

14.47%

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

$112 $112

$155 CA$215

-27.89%

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

$50.6 $50.6

$42.48 CA$58.8

19.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.9 $64.9

$61.5 CA$85.2

5.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 $56.2

$41.10 CA$56.9

36.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.94 $26.94

$33.74 CA$46.72

-20.15%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.87 CA$17.82

16.01%

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

$1,095 $1,095

$978 CA$1,355

11.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$12.1K CA$16.7K

93.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.14 $48.14

$48.12 CA$66.6

0.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.43 $35.43

$42.40 CA$58.7

-16.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 $86.9

$81.1 CA$112

7.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 $92.7

$114 CA$158

-18.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 $1,046

$945 CA$1,309

10.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$833 $833

$1,010 CA$1,399

-17.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,529 $2,529

$1,497 CA$2,072

68.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 $1,706

$1,533 CA$2,123

11.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,897 $1,897

$2,372 CA$3,285

-20.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,909 $1,909

$2,416 CA$3,345

-20.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,787 $3,787

$2,586 CA$3,581

46.42%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Winnipeg: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,046 in Lincoln, NE and $945 in Winnipeg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln, NE pays 46% 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 $66.0 in Winnipeg. Groceries flip the comparison at $398 vs $361, 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

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.

Lincoln, NE pays 46% 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 $945 in Winnipeg. 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 $66.0 in Winnipeg. 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 $2,188 in Winnipeg – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,981 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,188 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.

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 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.

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.