Cost of Living in Omaha, NE
Omaha, NE-IA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Omaha, NE to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Omaha, NE?
With a price level of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), Omaha, NE is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 14% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 24% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 7% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Omaha, NE vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.9 | −8.1% |
| Housing | 86.4 | −13.6% |
| Goods | 94.1 | −5.9% |
| Utilities | 76.4 | −23.6% |
| Other services | 93.0 | −7.0% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Omaha, NE
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,085 | $43,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,144 | $45,760/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,362 | $54,480/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,804 | $72,160/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,036 | $81,440/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Omaha, NE
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Omaha, NE | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,800 | $30,954 |
| $60,000 | $55,100 | $44,825 |
| $80,000 | $73,500 | $58,073 |
| $100,000 | $91,900 | $70,180 |
| $150,000 | $137,900 | $100,126 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Nebraska 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Omaha, NE's median wage of $49,660 takes home about $3,392 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,144, which is 34% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,248 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Omaha, NE
- Federal income tax$3,779
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,079
- Medicare (1.45%)$720
- Nebraska income tax$1,380
- Take-home pay$40,702
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.55% state
Highest-paying jobs in Omaha, NE
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Nebraska cities
Half of Nebraska’s 1,024,370 workers earn less than $48,980 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $37,370–$73,830 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Grand Island, NE stretches a paycheck furthest, while Omaha, NE is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | $49,660 | 91.9 | $1,144 | 34% | $2,248 | $44,284 |
| Lincoln, NE | $49,800 | 91.6 | $917 | 27% | $2,484 | $44,559 |
| Sioux City, IA | $47,030 | 86.5 | $925 | 29% | $2,301 | $44,773 |
| Grand Island, NE | $49,410 | 86.7 | $948 | 28% | $2,428 | $46,750 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Omaha, NE vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 91.9 | $1,144 | $49,660 | 498,100 |
| Rochester, NY | 97.0 | $1,256 | $51,210 | 494,280 |
| Fresno, CA | 102.2 | $1,315 | $46,910 | 476,890 |
| Birmingham, AL | 91.6 | $1,115 | $47,770 | 520,290 |
| Buffalo, NY | 95.8 | $1,139 | $50,790 | 534,550 |
| Tulsa, OK | 89.2 | $976 | $46,670 | 458,730 |
| Albany, NY | 99.6 | $1,417 | $58,460 | 449,410 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Omaha, NE expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area are 91.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 86.4%. It is the #246 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Omaha, NE?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,147 in Omaha, NE (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,660.
Can you afford Omaha, NE on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,660 median wage takes home about $3,392 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,144 would take 34% of that.
How much is rent in Omaha, NE?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Omaha, NE are $1,085 for a studio, $1,144 for one bedroom, $1,362 for two bedrooms and $1,804 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Omaha, NE
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $145,500
- Financial Manager — $140,390
- General and Operations Manager — $90,620
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $77,030
- Human Resources Specialist — $61,840
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $125,220
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,870
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $63,900
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $62,670
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $35,910
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $84,600
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $40,020
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $36,450
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $42,370
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,740
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,840
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,140
- Bartender — $34,630
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,290
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,450
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $45,970
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $35,620
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $35,170
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $31,330
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $65,320
- Insurance Sales Agent — $63,520
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $60,130
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,900
- Retail Salesperson — $33,260
- Cashier — $31,270
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $63,700
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $49,230
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,760
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $44,970
- Customer Service Representative — $44,260
- Office Clerks, General — $39,690
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $38,740
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,860
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,400
- Electrician — $62,440
- Carpenter — $52,800
- Construction Laborer — $48,300
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $51,700
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,010
- Light Truck Driver — $45,080
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,550
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,810