Living Cost Compare
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/mo est.

vs
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,140 in Omaha, NE versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 26% higher in Omaha, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$908
$786
+13% in Omaha, NE
1 Bedroom
$984
$1,183
+20% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,468
+23% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,437
$1,729
+20% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,100
$335,400
+46% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$72,708
$53,766
+26% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$61,430
+24% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
33.3 yr
+2.0 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
57.7%
26.2%
+31.5 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.3%
12.5%
+27.8 pp in Omaha, NE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.1 min
+3.5 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
359
1,010.1
+181% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
3,153.5
2,391.4
+24% 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
51.1°F
52.2°F
+1.1°F in Paterson, NJ
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
49.0 in
+18.4 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Paterson, NJ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.3
24.9
+88% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.10
$17.68
+12% 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
$1.92
+16% in Paterson, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Paterson, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Paterson, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Paterson, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / NJ)
5.5%
6.625%
+1.1 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
10.75%
+6.2 pp in NJ

Omaha vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Paterson?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Paterson?
Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).