Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Omaha?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $39,000 in Omaha.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Omaha?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs Omaha Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV versus $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 3% higher in Omaha, NE. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV

Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio

$992

$908

+8% in Las Vegas, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$984

+17% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,193

+15% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$1,437

+17% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$230,100

+42% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$72,708

+3% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$49,660

+6% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

35.3 yr

+3.2 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

55.7%

57.7%

+2.0 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

40.3%

+13.0 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

25.8 min

19.6 min

+6.2 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.1

358.6

+17% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

2,641.7

3,153

+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

68.4°F

51.1°F

+17.3°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

30.6 in

+25.3 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

$4.35/gal

+22% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

$1.25

+38% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.2

13.1

+8% in Las Vegas, NV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.04

$12.06

+20% in Omaha, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.14

+5% in Las Vegas, NV

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.79

+15% in Las Vegas, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$3.63

+61% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.97

+4% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.15

+1% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.63

+15% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / NE)

6.85%

5.5%

+1.3 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

Las Vegas vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Omaha?: Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in Omaha?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Omaha?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).