Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Omaha, NE's $1,130, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Wichita?

Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Omaha vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 13% higher in Omaha, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$908

$726

+20% in Omaha, NE

1 Bedroom

$984

$761

+23% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$976

+18% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$1,199

+17% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$179,500

+22% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$63,072

+13% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$47,630

+4% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

35.7 yr

+0.4 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

57.7%

58.4%

+0.7 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

30.9%

+9.4 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

19.6 min

18.9 min

+0.7 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

359

1,238.7

+245% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

3,153.5

5,284.9

+68% in Wichita, KS

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

57.0°F

+5.9°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

32.6 in

+2.0 in in Wichita, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

15.1

+11% in Wichita, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$25.12

+62% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / KS)

5.5%

6.5%

+1.0 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

5.58%

+1.0 pp in KS

Omaha vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Omaha, NE's $1,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Wichita?: Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).