Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Provo?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of natural gas costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Provo?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $39,000 in Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Provo?

Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Omaha vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 14% higher in Omaha, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$908

$1,009

+11% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$984

$978

+1% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,128

+5% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$1,381

+4% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$437,100

+90% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$62,800

+14% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$48,010

+3% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

23.7 yr

+11.6 yr in Omaha, NE

Homeownership

57.7%

39.9%

+17.8 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

45.0%

+4.7 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

19.6 min

18.5 min

+1.1 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

359

205.7

+43% in Omaha, NE

Property Crime

3,153.5

1,280.6

+59% 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

53.4°F

+2.3°F in Provo, UT

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

19.8 in

+10.9 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Provo, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.3

13.4

+1% in Provo, UT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.10

$11.84

+41% in Omaha, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / UT)

5.5%

6.1%

+0.6 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

4.50%

+0.0 pp in NE

Omaha vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Provo?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Provo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Provo?: Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).