Living Cost Compare
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 20% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$908
$1,496
+65% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$984
$1,357
+38% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,559
+31% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,437
$1,857
+29% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,100
$366,300
+59% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$72,708
$90,685
+25% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$49,430
+0% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
37.4 yr
+2.1 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
57.7%
64.9%
+7.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.3%
40.4%
+0.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.2 min
+3.6 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
359
96.9
+73% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
3,153.5
1,664.9
+47% in Omaha, NE

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
59.9°F
+8.8°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
44.3 in
+13.7 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Omaha, NE

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
17.6
+30% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$23.66
+52% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Omaha, NE
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Omaha, NE
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Omaha, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / VA)
5.5%
5.3%
+0.2 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
5.75%
+1.2 pp in VA

Omaha vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Virginia Beach?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Virginia Beach?
Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).