Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,140 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 2% higher in Omaha, NE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$908
+45% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$984
+29% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,193
+21% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,437
+25% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$230,100
+36% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$72,708
+2% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$49,660
+9% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
35.3 yr
+13.3 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
50.3%
57.7%
+7.4 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
40.3%
+17.2 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
19.6 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
359
+10% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
2,024.6
3,153.5
+56% 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
54.9°F
51.1°F
+3.8°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
30.6 in
+12.5 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Newark, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) 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)
19.3
13.3
+31% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$20.10
+32% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Omaha, NE
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Newark, DE
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Omaha, NE
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Omaha, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / NE)
None
5.5%
+5.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
4.55%
+2.0 pp in DE

Newark vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Omaha?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).