Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Omaha?

El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Omaha, NE's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $39,000 in Omaha.

Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Omaha?

El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).

El Paso vs Omaha Cost of Living 2026

El Paso

Texas

$1,010/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 $1,010 in El Paso, TX versus $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 19% higher in Omaha, NE. Texas has no state income tax 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.

El Paso, TX

Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio

$707

$908

+28% in Omaha, NE

1 Bedroom

$816

$984

+21% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$993

$1,193

+20% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,252

$1,437

+15% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$171,700

$230,100

+34% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$58,734

$72,708

+24% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,510

$49,660

+26% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.1 yr

35.3 yr

+1.2 yr in Omaha, NE

Homeownership

60.2%

57.7%

+2.5 pp in El Paso, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.5%

40.3%

+12.8 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

23.7 min

19.6 min

+4.1 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.7

358.6

+12% in Omaha, NE

Property Crime

1,509.3

3,153

+109% 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

64.6°F

51.1°F

+13.5°F in El Paso, TX

Annual Precipitation

9.7 in

30.6 in

+20.9 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.35/gal

+10% in Omaha, NE

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.50

$1.25

+17% in El Paso, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

13.1

+20% in El Paso, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$12.06

+51% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.14

+1% in El Paso, TX

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 (TX / NE)

6.25%

5.5%

+0.8 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

El Paso vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Omaha?: El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Omaha, NE's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Omaha?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Omaha?: El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).