Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 13% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$998
$908
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$984
+25% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,193
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,437
+24% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$230,100
+45% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$72,708
+13% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$49,660
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
35.3 yr
+0.3 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
57.7%
+3.6 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
40.3%
+1.6 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
19.6 min
+3.2 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
358.6
+50% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,487.9
3,153
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
51.1°F
+2.1°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
30.6 in
+14.1 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$4.35/gal
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.25
+29% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
13.1
+22% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$12.06
+4% in Omaha, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.79
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$3.63
+61% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.97
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.15
+1% in Omaha, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.63
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / NE)
2.9%
5.5%
+2.6 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
4.55%
+0.1 pp in NE

Colorado Springs vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Omaha?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).