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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,190 in Winnipeg versus $1,986 in Lincoln, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,192 in Winnipeg versus $3,136 in Lincoln, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,195 in Winnipeg versus $4,286 in Lincoln, NE.

Living in Winnipeg is roughly 10% more expensive than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Winnipeg 63% above, Lincoln, NE 48% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.31 CA$22.77

$15.04 $15.04

8.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.1 CA$93.7

$58.4 $58.4

14.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.19 CA$15.62

$12.16 $12.16

-7.98%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.31

$5.05 $5.05

-24.75%

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

$2.33 CA$3.25

$2.20 $2.20

5.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 CA$2.58

$1.54 $1.54

20.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.32 CA$7.43

$4.94 $4.94

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.56 CA$9.17

$5.91 $5.91

11.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 CA$2.23

$0.84 $0.84

90.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 CA$3.25

$3.08 $3.08

-24.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.36 CA$4.70

$5.71 $5.71

-41.16%

Eggs

$3.37 CA$4.71

$4.49 $4.49

-24.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 CA$14.93

$10.99 $10.99

-2.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.93 CA$16.65

$10.90 $10.90

9.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.99 CA$25.13

$14.47 $14.47

24.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.45

$5.89 $5.89

-33.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 CA$1.84

$1.94 $1.94

-31.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.26

$4.76 $4.76

-20.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 CA$5.02

$4.56 $4.56

-21.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$4.28 $4.28

-35.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CA$3.40

$3.39 $3.39

-28.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 CA$3.35

$1.80 $1.80

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CA$2.20

$2.34 $2.34

-32.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.96 CA$22.29

$10.18 $10.18

56.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.12 CA$18.32

$16.67 $16.67

-21.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 CA$4.44

$1.72 $1.72

84.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 CA$4.97

$3.36 $3.36

5.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.40

$1.71 $1.71

42.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.5 CA$118

$29.14 $29.14

189.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 CA$4.52

$6.65 $6.65

-51.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.81 $1.81

-28.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.25 CA$36.66

$34.64 $34.64

-24.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.50

$0.83 $0.83

28.92%

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

$25.1K CA$35.0K

$31.0K $31.0K

-19.10%

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

$21.9K CA$30.6K

$24.4K $24.4K

-10.33%

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

$158 CA$221

$113 $113

39.81%

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

$42.83 CA$59.8

$50.1 $50.1

-14.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 CA$85.0

$65.4 $65.4

-7.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.52 CA$58.0

$55.7 $55.7

-25.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.81 CA$47.21

$26.54 $26.54

27.39%

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 CA$18.35

$15.18 $15.18

-13.44%

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

$957 CA$1,336

$1,060 $1,060

-9.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K CA$16.8K

$23.0K $23.0K

-47.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.02 CA$67.1

$48.95 $48.95

-1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.78 CA$58.4

$34.87 $34.87

19.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 CA$109

$84.4 $84.4

-7.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$158

$93.0 $93.0

21.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 CA$1,323

$1,020 $1,020

-7.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$986 CA$1,377

$827 $827

19.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 CA$2,148

$2,506 $2,506

-38.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 CA$2,160

$1,663 $1,663

-6.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,407 CA$3,361

$1,913 $1,913

25.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,408 CA$3,363

$1,923 $1,923

25.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,636 CA$3,681

$3,846 $3,846

-31.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

6.54

-7.95%

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

Last update for Winnipeg: June 8, 2026

Last update for Lincoln, NE: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Winnipeg and $1,020 in Lincoln, NE. 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: $67.0 in Winnipeg vs $58.0 in Lincoln, NE. Groceries flip the comparison at $363 vs $397, 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

Winnipeg vs Lincoln, NE: 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.

On paper, Lincoln, NE earns 46% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Winnipeg versus $1,020 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 $58.0 versus $67.0 in Winnipeg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,190 per month in Winnipeg versus $1,986 in Lincoln, NE – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,986 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,190 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, Winnipeg 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 10% less than in Winnipeg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.