Living Cost Compare
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 29% higher in Omaha, NE. 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.

Milwaukee, WI
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$841
$908
+8% in Omaha, NE
1 Bedroom
$849
$984
+16% in Omaha, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,193
+16% in Omaha, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,437
+20% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$172,000
$230,100
+34% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$51,888
$72,708
+40% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,160
$49,660
+3% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
35.3 yr
+3.1 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
41.5%
57.7%
+16.2 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.6%
40.3%
+13.7 pp in Omaha, NE
Avg Commute
22.4 min
19.6 min
+2.8 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,452.3
358.6
+75% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
2,772.2
3,153
+14% 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
47.9°F
51.1°F
+3.2°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
34.8 in
30.6 in
+4.1 in in Milwaukee, WI

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)
$2.25
$1.25
+44% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
13.1
+30% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.48
$12.06
+27% in Omaha, NE

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

Milwaukee vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Omaha?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Omaha, NE's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Omaha?
Milwaukee 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).