Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Portland?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Portland, OR's $1,600, 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Omaha vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,120/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Omaha, NE versus $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 18% higher in Portland, OR. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$908

$1,294

+43% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$984

$1,440

+46% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,741

+46% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$2,053

+43% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$557,600

+142% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$88,792

+22% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$60,690

+22% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

38.6 yr

+3.3 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

57.7%

52.8%

+4.9 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

53.5%

+13.2 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

19.6 min

24.6 min

+5.0 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.6

731.7

+104% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

3,153

5,605.5

+78% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+3.4°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

42.9 in

+12.2 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.35/gal

$5.57/gal

+28% in Portland, OR

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

$2.80

+124% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.1

14.9

+14% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.06

$17.98

+49% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.14

$4.37

+6% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.79

$2.10

+17% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.25

+38% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.97

$7.23

+4% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.15

$2.14

+1% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.63

$0.74

+18% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / OR)

5.5%

None

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

9.90%

+5.4 pp in OR

Omaha vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Portland?: Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Portland, OR's $1,600, 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).