Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,140/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 $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 13% higher in Omaha, NE. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$933
$908
+3% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$963
$984
+2% in Omaha, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,193
+5% in Omaha, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,437
+10% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$230,100
+11% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$72,708
+15% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$49,660
+1% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
35.3 yr
+1.2 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
55.3%
57.7%
+2.4 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
40.3%
+6.1 pp in Omaha, NE
Avg Commute
24.3 min
19.6 min
+4.7 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
358.6
+62% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
3,153
+6% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.2°F
51.1°F
+2.1°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
30.6 in
+11.8 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.35/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.25
+29% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.9
13.1
+27% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.49
$12.06
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.79
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.97
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.15
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.63
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NE)
7%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.55%
+1.6 pp in NE

Indianapolis vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,140, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Omaha?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).