Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Minneapolis, MN versus $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 9% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$992
$908
+8% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$984
+17% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,193
+23% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,437
+18% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$230,100
+33% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$72,708
+9% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$49,660
+16% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.3 yr
+2.3 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
48.0%
57.7%
+9.7 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
40.3%
+14.2 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
19.6 min
+2.9 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,167.8
358.6
+69% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,182.6
3,153
+39% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
47.4°F
51.1°F
+3.7°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
30.6 in
+2.2 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$4.35/gal
+2% in Omaha, NE

Area: Minnesota vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.25
+38% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
13.1
+13% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.33
$12.06
+16% in Minneapolis, MN

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 (MN / NE)
6.875%
5.5%
+1.4 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
4.55%
+5.3 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Omaha?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).