🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,030 in Livingston versus $2,131 in Lincoln, NE.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,148 in Livingston versus $3,188 in Lincoln, NE.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,265 in Livingston versus $4,244 in Lincoln, NE.
🌍Living in Livingston costs roughly 5% less than in Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Livingston48% above, Lincoln, NE55% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Livingston
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.08£14.84
$19.77$19.77
1.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103£75.9
$81.0$81.0
26.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.91£8.07
$11.89$11.89
-8.24%
Cappuccino
$5.14£3.80
$5.45$5.45
-5.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63£1.95
$2.27$2.27
15.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37£1.75
$1.71$1.71
38.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.59£4.87
$4.96$4.96
32.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.74£4.98
$7.54$7.54
-10.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Livingston
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47£1.09
$0.82$0.82
79.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.93£1.43
$3.13$3.13
-38.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.22£1.64
$6.02$6.02
-63.12%
Eggs
$3.73£2.76
$4.52$4.52
-17.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.39£6.94
$11.46$11.46
-18.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.31£6.89
$9.16$9.16
1.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.90£11.01
$14.99$14.99
-0.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05£2.26
$6.70$6.70
-54.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72£1.27
$2.32$2.32
-25.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95£2.18
$5.96$5.96
-50.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63£2.68
$4.36$4.36
-16.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67£1.24
$3.15$3.15
-46.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44£1.07
$3.80$3.80
-62.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18£0.87
$1.90$1.90
-37.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59£1.17
$2.56$2.56
-37.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.85£16.89
$10.05$10.05
127.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.89£8.05
$17.07$17.07
-36.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.05£2.25
$1.78$1.78
71.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18£2.35
$2.43$2.43
30.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Livingston
Lincoln, NE
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.73$1.73
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$34.69$34.69
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.50£4.06
$4.92$4.92
11.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63£1.20
$1.83$1.83
-10.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.98£20.68
$34.91$34.91
-19.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09£1.54
$0.96$0.96
117.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K£28.8K
$35.6K$35.6K
9.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3K£30.6K
$25.6K$25.6K
61.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Livingston
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$336£248
$124$124
169.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.66£12.32
$50.4$50.4
-66.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.19£30.45
$64.4$64.4
-36.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Livingston
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$57.1$57.1
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.75$26.75
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.03£8.15
$14.95$14.95
-26.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Livingston
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,250£924
$836$836
49.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2K£13.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Livingston
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.1£68.8
$52.2$52.2
78.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.64£36.69
$35.22$35.22
40.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109£80.7
$91.6$91.6
19.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.1£73.3
$131$131
-24.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Livingston
Lincoln, NE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$880£651
$1,064$1,064
-17.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$777£574
$909$909
-14.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,930£1,426
$1,885$1,885
2.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,556£1,150
$1,448$1,448
7.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,871$1,871
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,892$1,892
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Livingston
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,139£3,060
$3,777$3,777
9.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
6.03
-14.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Livingston: August 29, 2026
Last update for Lincoln, NE: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $880 in Livingston and $1,064 in Lincoln, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Livingston pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $103 in Livingston vs $81.0 in Lincoln, NE. Groceries flip the comparison at $308 vs $403, 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
Livingston vs Lincoln, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Livingston or Lincoln, NE?
Livingston wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Lincoln, NE. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Livingston the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Livingston or in Lincoln, NE?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Livingston, 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 Livingston compared to Lincoln, NE?
Rent for a central apartment: $880 in Livingston versus $1,064 in Lincoln, NE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Livingston and in Lincoln, NE?
Childcare runs $1,250 in Livingston versus $836 in Lincoln, NE. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Livingston and in Lincoln, NE?
Dining out is cheaper in Livingston – a meal for two runs $103 versus $81.0 in Lincoln, NE. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Livingston or in Lincoln, NE?
At $2,030 in Livingston versus $2,131 in Lincoln, NE, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Livingston but tight or insufficient in Lincoln, NE. The gap between the two cities makes Livingston the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Livingston or Lincoln, NE?
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 Livingston compared to Lincoln, NE?
Safety-wise, Livingston and Lincoln, NE 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 Livingston gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Lincoln, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Livingston vs other spots: cost of living compared