Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Santa Fe?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Santa Fe?

Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax).

Omaha vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/mo est.

Santa Fe

New Mexico

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 4% higher in Omaha, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$908

$969

+7% in Santa Fe, NM

1 Bedroom

$984

$1,167

+19% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,559

+31% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$1,733

+21% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$411,500

+79% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$70,110

+4% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$48,710

+2% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

46.4 yr

+11.1 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

57.7%

62.8%

+5.1 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

45.4%

+5.1 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

19.6 min

20.2 min

+0.6 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

359

843.3

+135% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

3,153.5

5,189

+65% in Santa Fe, NM

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

51.9°F

+0.8°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

13.5 in

+17.1 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Omaha, NE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

14.1

+4% in Santa Fe, NM

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$11.90

+23% in Omaha, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Santa Fe, NM

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Santa Fe, NM

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Santa Fe, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Santa Fe, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / NM)

5.5%

4.875%

+0.6 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

5.90%

+1.4 pp in NM

Omaha vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Santa Fe?: Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Santa Fe?: Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).