Living Cost Compare
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 17% higher in Rochester, MN. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$908
$1,080
+19% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$984
$1,106
+12% in Rochester, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,243
+4% in Rochester, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,437
$1,646
+15% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,100
$287,500
+25% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$72,708
$87,767
+21% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$60,620
+22% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
36.4 yr
+1.1 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
57.7%
65.4%
+7.7 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.3%
50.1%
+9.8 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
19.6 min
17.2 min
+2.4 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
359
158.9
+56% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
3,153.5
1,379
+56% 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
45.4°F
+5.7°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
33.0 in
+2.4 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.95/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
16.9
+25% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$14.95
+4% 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
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / MN)
5.5%
6.875%
+1.4 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
9.85%
+5.3 pp in MN

Omaha vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Rochester?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Rochester?
Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).