Living Cost Compare
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,130 in Omaha, NE versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 5% higher in Portland, ME. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$908
$1,038
+14% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$984
$1,331
+35% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,664
+39% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,437
$1,919
+34% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,100
$452,600
+97% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$72,708
$76,174
+5% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$56,960
+15% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
37.5 yr
+2.2 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
57.7%
46.7%
+11.0 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.3%
59.2%
+18.9 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.6 min
19.9 min
+0.3 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
359
272.7
+24% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
3,153.5
2,513.3
+20% 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
46.5°F
+4.6°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
47.3 in
+16.6 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Omaha, NE

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)
13.6
28.6
+111% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$21.00
+35% in Portland, ME

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 Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / ME)
5.5%
5.5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
7.15%
+2.6 pp in ME

Omaha vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Portland?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Portland?
Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% 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).