Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Madison, WI versus $1,130 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 6% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Madison, WI
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$908
+11% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$984
+19% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$1,193
+17% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$1,437
+19% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$230,100
+34% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$72,708
+6% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$49,660
+14% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
35.3 yr
+3.5 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
46.6%
57.7%
+11.1 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
40.3%
+18.9 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
19.6 min
+0.2 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
359
+38% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
1,884.5
3,153.5
+67% 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
46.5°F
51.1°F
+4.6°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
30.6 in
+3.9 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
13.6
+31% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$15.53
+32% in Omaha, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / NE)
5%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
4.55%
+3.1 pp in WI

Madison vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Omaha?
Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).