Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Omaha?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $39,000 in Omaha.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Omaha?

Denver 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).

Denver vs Omaha Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/mo est.

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 21% higher in Denver, 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.

Denver, CO

Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$908

+39% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$984

+38% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$1,193

+39% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,437

+37% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$230,100

+61% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$72,708

+21% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$49,660

+20% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

35.3 yr

+0.1 yr in Omaha, NE

Homeownership

49.1%

57.7%

+8.6 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

40.3%

+15.3 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

19.6 min

+5.8 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

998.3

358.6

+64% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.9

3,153

+34% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

51.1°F

+0.9°F in Omaha, NE

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

30.6 in

+15.0 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.58/gal

$4.35/gal

+5% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$1.25

+55% in Denver, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

13.1

+22% in Denver, 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 Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.79

+15% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$3.63

+61% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.97

+4% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.15

+1% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.63

+15% in Denver, 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

Denver vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Omaha?: Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Omaha?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Omaha?: Denver 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).