Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Seattle?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Seattle?

Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Omaha vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,120/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,020/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 $2,020 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 40% higher in Seattle, WA. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$908

$1,638

+80% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$984

$1,858

+89% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$2,359

+98% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$2,918

+103% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$912,100

+296% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$121,984

+68% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$72,610

+46% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

35.5 yr

+0.2 yr in Seattle, WA

Homeownership

57.7%

44.2%

+13.5 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

67.5%

+27.2 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

19.6 min

26.6 min

+7.0 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.6

787.3

+120% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

3,153

5,107.9

+62% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+2.4°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

37.7 in

+7.1 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.35/gal

$5.77/gal

+33% in Seattle, WA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

$2.75

+120% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.1

14.4

+10% in Seattle, WA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.06

$17.32

+44% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.14

$4.37

+6% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.79

$2.10

+17% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.25

+38% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.97

$7.23

+4% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.15

$2.14

+1% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.63

$0.74

+18% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / WA)

5.5%

6.5%

+1.0 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

None

+4.5 pp in NE

Omaha vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Seattle?: Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Seattle?: Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).