Living Cost Compare
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL versus $1,130 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 52% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Naperville, IL
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,713
$908
+47% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,594
$984
+38% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,889
$1,193
+37% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$2,446
$1,437
+41% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$509,900
$230,100
+55% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$150,937
$72,708
+52% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$49,660
+9% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
35.3 yr
+4.8 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
74.3%
57.7%
+16.6 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
71.7%
40.3%
+31.4 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
31.4 min
19.6 min
+11.8 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
85.7
359
+319% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
892.2
3,153.5
+253% 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
49.9°F
51.1°F
+1.2°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
30.6 in
+6.3 in in Naperville, IL

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)
23.9
13.6
+43% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$15.53
+1% 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 (IL / NE)
6.25%
5.5%
+0.8 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
4.55%
+0.4 pp in IL

Naperville vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Omaha?
Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).