Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Omaha?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 59% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Omaha?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $39,000 in Omaha.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Omaha?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Omaha Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,140 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 59% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 43% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$908

+59% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$984

+61% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,193

+60% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,437

+57% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$230,100

+78% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$72,708

+43% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$49,660

+25% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

35.3 yr

+4.8 yr in Omaha, NE

Homeownership

33.7%

57.7%

+24.0 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

40.3%

+39.9 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

19.6 min

+6.5 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

359

+18% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

2,657.6

3,153.5

+19% in Omaha, NE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

51.1°F

+0.4°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

30.6 in

+13.2 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.85/gal

+5% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

13.3

+55% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$20.10

+34% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / NE)

6.25%

5.5%

+0.8 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

4.55%

+4.5 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Omaha?: Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 59% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Omaha?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Omaha?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).