Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Warwick?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Warwick?

Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Omaha vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/mo est.

Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 17% higher in Warwick, RI. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$908

$923

+2% in Warwick, RI

1 Bedroom

$984

$1,085

+10% in Warwick, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,629

+37% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$1,569

+9% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$322,000

+40% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$87,536

+20% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$53,680

+8% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

44.6 yr

+9.3 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

57.7%

73.4%

+15.7 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

33.2%

+7.1 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

19.6 min

25.0 min

+5.4 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

359

79.5

+78% in Omaha, NE

Property Crime

3,153.5

1,149.5

+64% 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

51.6°F

+0.5°F in Warwick, RI

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

47.2 in

+16.6 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Warwick, RI

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

29.2

+121% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.10

$25.75

+28% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Warwick, RI

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Warwick, RI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Warwick, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / RI)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

5.99%

+1.4 pp in RI

Omaha vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Warwick?: Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Warwick?: Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).