Living Cost Compare
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,120/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 59% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 49% higher in San Francisco, CA. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$908
$1,560
+72% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$984
$2,425
+146% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,193
$2,982
+150% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,437
$3,269
+127% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,100
$1,380,500
+500% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$72,708
$141,446
+95% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$74,260
+50% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
39.7 yr
+4.4 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
57.7%
38.5%
+19.2 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.3%
60.1%
+19.8 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
19.6 min
31.2 min
+11.6 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.6
596.5
+66% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
3,153
3,962.2
+26% in San Francisco, CA

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
57.3°F
+6.2°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
23.6 in
+7.0 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$6.05/gal
+39% in San Francisco, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.50
+100% in San Francisco, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.1
33.4
+155% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.06
$20.72
+72% in San Francisco, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$2.10
+17% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$7.23
+4% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.14
+1% in Omaha, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.74
+18% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / CA)
5.5%
7.25%
+1.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
13.30%
+8.8 pp in CA

Omaha vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or San Francisco?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 59% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or San Francisco?
Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); San Francisco under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).