Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 18% higher in Omaha, NE. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$908
+14% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$984
+8% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,193
+12% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,437
+8% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$230,100
+5% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$72,708
+22% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$49,660
+16% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.3 yr
+0.8 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
57.7%
+10.2 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
40.3%
+4.9 pp in Omaha, NE
Avg Commute
29.4 min
19.6 min
+9.8 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
358.6
+78% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,153
+25% in Baltimore, MD

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.4°F
51.1°F
+10.3°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
30.6 in
+11.8 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.35/gal
+1% in Omaha, NE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.25
+38% in Baltimore, MD

Adult base one-way fare — MTA Maryland vs Metro Transit (Omaha) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
13.1
+63% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$12.06
+30% in Baltimore, MD

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Baltimore, MD
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.79
+4% in Omaha, NE
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.97
+6% in Omaha, NE
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.15
+13% in Omaha, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.63
+3% in Omaha, NE

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / NE)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
4.55%
+2.0 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Omaha?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).