Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 10% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$908
+38% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$984
+42% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,193
+44% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,437
+42% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$230,100
+74% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$72,708
+10% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$49,660
+11% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
35.3 yr
+1.6 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
57.7%
+21.4 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
40.3%
+2.5 pp in Omaha, NE
Avg Commute
31.1 min
19.6 min
+11.5 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
358.6
+51% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,501.2
3,153
+110% 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
67.0°F
51.1°F
+15.9°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
30.6 in
+9.4 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.35/gal
+26% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.25
+29% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
13.1
+61% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$12.06
+42% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / NE)
7.25%
5.5%
+1.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.55%
+8.8 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Omaha?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).