Living Cost Compare
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,140 in Omaha, NE versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 25% higher in South Burlington, VT. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$908
$1,557
+71% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$984
$1,533
+56% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,805
+51% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,437
$2,356
+64% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,100
$399,600
+74% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$72,708
$97,229
+34% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$60,020
+21% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
38.8 yr
+3.5 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
57.7%
60.1%
+2.4 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.3%
65.1%
+24.8 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.6 min
18.9 min
+0.7 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
359
239.4
+33% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
3,153.5
4,446
+41% in South Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+5.1°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
36.8 in
+6.2 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in South Burlington, VT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.3
24.4
+84% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.10
$26.07
+30% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in South Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / VT)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
8.75%
+4.2 pp in VT

Omaha vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or South Burlington?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or South Burlington?
Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).