Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln and Chatham Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln and Chatham

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,288 per month in Lincoln vs $2,845 in Chatham, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,366 per month in Lincoln vs $3,907 in Chatham, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,444 per month in Lincoln vs $4,968 in Chatham, rent included.

Lincoln is about 20% cheaper than Chatham, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lincoln and Chatham sit above the global median – Lincoln by 71%, Chatham by 112%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.59 £20.55

$27.49 £20.47

0.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 £56.6

$95.6 £71.2

-20.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.34 £7.70

$9.48 £7.06

9.07%

Cappuccino

$5.41 £4.03

$3.43 £2.56

57.73%

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

$2.26 £1.68

$3.43 £2.55

-34.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 £1.17

$1.38 £1.03

13.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 £5.15

$6.68 £4.98

3.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.59 £4.91

$6.90 £5.14

-4.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 £1.10

$1.43 £1.06

3.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 £1.10

$1.37 £1.02

7.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 £0.98

$2.66 £1.98

-50.38%

Eggs

$3.40 £2.53

$3.62 £2.70

-6.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.15 £6.82

$9.88 £7.36

-7.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 £6.76

$7.93 £5.91

14.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.87 £8.84

$13.04 £9.72

-8.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.86 £2.87

$3.05 £2.27

26.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 £0.92

$1.55 £1.15

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 £2.12

$2.89 £2.15

-1.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 £2.29

$3.26 £2.43

-5.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 £0.73

$1.42 £1.06

-30.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 £1.22

$1.39 £1.03

17.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 £0.92

$0.94 £0.70

31.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 £1.07

$1.53 £1.14

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 £14.03

$14.72 £10.97

27.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.21 £7.60

$13.54 £10.09

-24.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 £2.88

$2.36 £1.76

63.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 £2.36

$3.33 £2.48

-5.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.42 £3.29

$2.77 £2.07

59.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 £65.4

-0.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.13 £3.08

$6.00 £4.47

-31.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 £1.14

$1.75 £1.30

-12.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$47.13 £35.10

$14.97 £11.15

214.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.98 £1.47

$1.86 £1.39

6.45%

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

$34.1K £25.4K

$38.8K £28.9K

-12.11%

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

$40.8K £30.4K

$41.9K £31.2K

-2.58%

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

$313 £233

$228 £170

37.16%

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

$15.51 £11.55

$19.32 £14.39

-19.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.54 £34.67

$44.67 £33.27

4.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.31 £32.26

$47.54 £35.41

-8.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.75 £13.96

Cinema Ticket

$16.05 £11.96

$13.67 £10.18

17.41%

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

$1,848 £1,377

$1,319 £982

40.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K £15.5K

$25.6K £19.1K

-19.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 £80.5

$82.3 £61.3

31.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.51 £32.41

$49.61 £36.95

-12.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 £58.5

$109 £81.3

-28.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 £75.7

$100 £74.6

1.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,105 £823

$1,637 £1,219

-32.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$868 £646

$1,540 £1,147

-43.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 £1,451

$2,524 £1,880

-22.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 £1,092

$2,178 £1,622

-32.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,594 £1,932

$8,097 £6,030

-67.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,372 £5,490

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,247 £2,419

$2,607 £1,942

24.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.56

5.53

0.54%

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

Last update for Lincoln: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chatham: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,105 in Lincoln versus $1,637 in Chatham. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in Lincoln, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Lincoln versus $96.0 in Chatham. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $289 – making Lincoln the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 vs Chatham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chatham costs about 24% more than Lincoln, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,432 per month in Lincoln and $4,268 in Chatham. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lincoln, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,288 in Lincoln and $2,845 in Chatham. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 0% less in Lincoln. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lincoln, where all-in costs run around $2,288, than in Chatham at $2,845. In Lincoln it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chatham it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lincoln – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lincoln. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chatham makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.