Cost of Living in Omaha, NE (2026)

Omaha's cost of living is 8% below the US average. $100,000 here is worth about $108,801 nationally. Rent, homes and monthly costs.

Omaha has a cost-of-living index of 92 against a US average of 100 — about 8% below average. $100,000 of income here is worth roughly $108,801 at the national average.

What it costs to live in Omaha

MeasureOmahaUS average
Cost-of-living index92100
Median rent$1,150/mo-
Median home value$230,100-
Median household income$72,708-
Population488,197-

Monthly cost breakdown in Omaha

Estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by the local cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s median rent; the owning column uses a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down on the median home.

CategoryRentingOwning
Housing$1,150$1,336
Transport$913$913
Food$718$718
Healthcare$451$451
Other$1,604$1,604
Total$4,837$5,023

Affordability in Omaha

Median rent takes about 19.0% of the median household income in Omaha — comfortably inside the 30% rule of thumb.

The median home costs 3.2x the median household income. Three times income is the traditional comfort line; five times is where affordability usually breaks down.

Highest-paying roles in Omaha

RoleTypical salaryWorth nationally
Software Developer$112,130$121,998
Marketing Manager$111,930$121,781
Data Scientist$95,550$103,959
Physical Therapist$87,210$94,885
Mechanical Engineer$86,240$93,830
Police Officer$85,430$92,949
Dental Hygienist$83,886$91,269
Financial Analyst$81,730$88,923

“Worth nationally” adjusts each salary for Omaha’s cost of living, so you can compare offers between cities on equal terms.

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Frequently asked questions

Omaha has a cost-of-living index of 92 against a US average of 100, so it is about 8% below the national average. In practical terms, $100,000 of income in Omaha has roughly the purchasing power of $108,801 at the national average.

A common benchmark is keeping rent at or under 30% of gross income. At Omaha's median rent of $1,150/month that implies about $46,000 a year before tax. The median household in Omaha earns $72,708.

Renting, a single household spends roughly $4,837 a month in Omaha across housing, transport, food, healthcare and everything else. Buying at the median home price, the estimate is about $5,023 a month including a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down.

The median home in Omaha costs $230,100, which is 3.2x the median household income of $72,708. Lenders traditionally treat 3x as comfortable and about 5x as stretched, so Omaha is manageable but tight.