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Cost of living in Omaha, NE

Livability score 69 · cost-of-living index 92.5 (US = 100)

Omaha, NE
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States via Commons · CC BY 2.0

How Omaha compares

Where Omaha falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 92 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 92 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $310k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $310k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $183 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $183 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.71% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.71% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 330 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 330 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 13.3 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 13.3 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 88° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 88° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 14° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 14°

Map of Omaha

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 92.5 metro-area #65 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 96.6 metro-area #100 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.26 metro-area #64 of 200
Median household income $79,634 metro-area #61 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $45,495 metro-area #37 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 36.5 years metro-area #45 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 39.1% metro-area #48 of 200
Foreign-born residents 7.9% metro-area #105 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 66.3% metro-area #102 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 3.42% metro-area #13 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +5.7% metro-area #66 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $310,337 metro-area #80 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.9× metro-area #44 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +2.2% metro-area #82 of 200
Price per square foot $183 metro-area #94 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 1,700 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,444 metro-area #62 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 2,583
Median days on market 8 metro-area #29 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 11.5% state #148 of 200
Combined sales tax 6.97% state #53 of 200
State income tax (top rate) 5.20%
Capital gains tax 5.20% state #123 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate 1.71% metro-area #169 of 200
Median property tax paid $3,935 metro-area #155 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 78.0 years metro-area #65 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 6.8% metro-area #58 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 84 metro-area #63 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 state #110 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $150 state #125 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) 2.27% of value (~$636/yr) state #184 of 200
Emissions testing Not required
Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices 11
Avg commute to work 21 min metro-area #19 of 200
Commute by driving alone 75.8% metro-area #110 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 21.8% metro-area #20 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 13.3¢/kWh state #3 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $120 state #3 of 200
Gasoline $3.10/gal state #50 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $79 state #164 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $108 state #115 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $75 state #16 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $3,600 state #164 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 state #51 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 85.0 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #68 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 50 metro-area #132 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,100 metro-area #99 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 6,100 metro-area #176 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 16 metro-area #75 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 88°F metro-area #98 of 200
Avg winter low 14°F metro-area #185 of 200
Annual precipitation 28.0" metro-area #45 of 200
Annual snowfall 25.0" metro-area #135 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 62% metro-area #64 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 5b
Frost window 05-10 → 10-10

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 330 state #43 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,100 state #95 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 54 metro-area #109 of 200
Parks 58
Hiking areas 23
Golf courses 21
Shooting ranges 5
Lakes 7

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200
Permit detail Generally easy

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Omaha

Major public and private employers in the Omaha, NE area.

EmployerSectorJobs
Offutt Air Force Base Government Careers →
Berkshire Hathaway Finance Careers →
Omaha Public Schools Education Search →
First National Bank of Omaha Finance Search →
CHI Health Healthcare Search →
University of Nebraska Omaha Education Search →

Salaries by occupation in Omaha

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $153,870
Financial Managers $133,210
Pharmacists $131,460
Human Resources Managers $128,660
Physician Assistants $123,930
Lawyers $116,050
Software Developers $112,130
Marketing Managers $111,930
Data Scientists $95,550
Civil Engineers $94,010
Construction Managers $91,710
Physical Therapists $87,210
Mechanical Engineers $86,240
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $85,430
Dental Hygienists $82,730
General & Operations Managers $82,500
Web Developers $79,030
Registered Nurses $78,090
Accountants & Auditors $72,330
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $67,720
Elementary School Teachers $62,380
Electricians $61,530
Graphic Designers $56,280
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $51,780
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $49,340
Carpenters $48,320
Medical Assistants $41,080
Real Estate Sales Agents $38,020

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