Omaha cost of living
Prices in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area run at 91.9 against a national average of 100, ranking it #247 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 86.4.
What drives the number
Prices in Omaha run at 91.9 where the national average is 100, so about 8.1 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #247 of 387 metro areas. Against Nebraska as a whole it is 1.8 points more expensive, which is the usual direction: cities cost more than the states around them.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 94.1, rents at 86.4, other services at 76.4. Goods are close to national almost everywhere, because most are shipped and priced nationally, so it is worth noticing when rents behave the same way. Goods at 94.1 are themselves 5.9 points off national, which is a wide gap for a category that is mostly shipped in.
Low prices only help if pay does not fall by more. Dividing the local median wage by 91.9 is how to check, and the wage pages carry that comparison.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Omaha is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 14,410 | $29,770 | $32,394 | $30,480 |
| Registered Nurses | 12,860 | $81,020 | $88,161 | $93,600 |
| Retail Salespersons | 11,990 | $31,220 | $33,972 | $34,580 |
| General and Operations Managers | 11,120 | $86,090 | $93,678 | $102,950 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 10,740 | $36,730 | $39,967 | $37,090 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 10,260 | $57,930 | $63,036 | $57,440 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 9,210 | $42,840 | $46,616 | $42,830 |
| Cashiers | 8,920 | $30,190 | $32,851 | $31,190 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 91.9.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | 91.7 | 84.7 | #252 |
| Lincoln | 91.6 | 84.2 | #256 |
| Iowa City | 91.5 | 84.0 | #259 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 89.1 | 68.3 | #309 |
| Cedar Rapids | 89.0 | 71.4 | #310 |
| Ames | 88.8 | 69.2 | #316 |
Omaha: common questions
Is Omaha expensive?
Prices are 8.1% below the national average, a parity of 91.9 where the country is 100. It ranks #247 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Nebraska as a whole it is 1.8 points more expensive.
What salary do you need in Omaha?
The median worker there earns $48,720, which buys what $53,014 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 86.4 against goods at 94.1. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.