Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Reno?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Reno?

Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Omaha vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 7% higher in Reno, NV. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$908

$964

+6% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$984

$1,206

+23% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,518

+27% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$1,885

+31% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$498,600

+117% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$78,448

+8% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

37.3 yr

+2.0 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

57.7%

49.4%

+8.3 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

35.7%

+4.6 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

19.6 min

20.6 min

+1.0 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

359

528.9

+47% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

3,153.5

2,489.3

+21% 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

53.8°F

+2.7°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

7.4 in

+23.2 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Reno, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

about equal

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$12.09

+22% in Omaha, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / NV)

5.5%

6.85%

+1.3 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

None

+4.5 pp in NE

Omaha vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Reno?: Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Reno?: Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).