Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lincoln, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lincoln, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,134 in Lincoln, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,207 in Lincoln, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,281 in Lincoln, NE.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 82% more expensive than in Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Lincoln, NE 56% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$19.81 $19.81

26.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$79.1 $79.1

26.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$12.03 $12.03

25.19%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.54 $5.54

14.98%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.37 $2.37

29.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.75 $1.75

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.04 $5.04

54.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.71 $7.71

6.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.82 $0.82

47.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.17 $3.17

57.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$6.20 $6.20

3.06%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.70 $4.70

8.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$11.71 $11.71

79.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$9.16 $9.16

100.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$15.01 $15.01

60.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.72 $6.72

-12.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.36 $2.36

-20.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$6.10 $6.10

-13.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.23 $4.23

52.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.10 $3.10

18.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.70 $3.70

-9.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.88 $1.88

48.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.56 $2.56

0.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.97 $9.97

39.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$16.83 $16.83

-10.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.86 $1.86

130.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.54 $2.54

130.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.71 $1.71

70.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$34.31 $34.31

217.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.06 $5.06

-49.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.91 $1.91

-9.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$34.32 $34.32

-11.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.88 $0.88

59.09%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

0.06%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

0.97%

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

$299 $299

$126 $126

138.22%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$50.1 $50.1

38.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$65.5 $65.5

33.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$58.1 $58.1

37.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$27.13 $27.13

28.75%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.74 $14.74

20.08%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$815 $815

270.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$50.9 $50.9

51.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$34.49 $34.49

59.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$92.1 $92.1

39.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$130 $130

22.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,061 $1,061

134.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$899 $899

114.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,907 $1,907

149.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,448 $1,448

151.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$1,860 $1,860

307.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,890 $1,890

170.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,795 $3,795

63.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.03

6.97%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lincoln, NE: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,061 in Lincoln, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 64% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $79.0 in Lincoln, NE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $406 per month, with Lincoln, NE cheaper across the board.

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

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

Lincoln, NE wins on cost – living expenses run 82% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lincoln, NE the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 64% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,061 in Lincoln, NE. 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 $79.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,134 in Lincoln, NE – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,134 in Lincoln, NE versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lincoln, NE but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Lincoln, NE the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Lincoln, NE delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,134 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lincoln, NE hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA 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.

Expats usually find Lincoln, NE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.