Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Rochester?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.

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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Omaha vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 36% higher in Omaha, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$908

$750

+17% in Omaha, NE

1 Bedroom

$984

$857

+13% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,114

+7% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$1,240

+14% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$120,600

+48% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$46,628

+36% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$51,210

+3% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

33.5 yr

+1.8 yr in Omaha, NE

Homeownership

57.7%

37.2%

+20.5 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

29.9%

+10.4 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

19.6 min

18.9 min

+0.7 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

359

690

+92% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

3,153.5

3,533.4

+12% in Rochester, NY

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

48.2°F

+2.9°F in Omaha, NE

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

34.3 in

+3.7 in in Rochester, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.04/gal

+3% in Rochester, NY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs New York.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

29.9

+120% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$22.74

+46% in Rochester, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Rochester, NY

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Rochester, NY

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / NY)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

10.90%

+6.4 pp in NY

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 3% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).