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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Nebraska is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Omaha leads at an index of 96 with rent at just $1,403/month — 26% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
#1 Ranked: Omaha — cost index 96, rent $1,403/mo, income $72,708
Omaha rent up 3% over the past year
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Omaha | 5.84% | 6.94% | 1.54% | $51,851 |
2Lincoln | 5.84% | 6.94% | 1.54% | $51,851 |
Nebraska is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Omaha leads at an index of 96 with rent at just $1,403/month — 26% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
A closer look at Omaha: the cost index of 96 breaks down to a Utilities index of 88 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 99 (weakest). Median rent is $1,403/month — 26% below the national median — while household income sits at $72,708, meaning locals spend about 23% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
483,335 residents · Nebraska
Omaha earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. It's fine. Not great, not bad. The 96 cost index sits 16 points below the national baseline, and the $72,708 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $288,850 — $178,520 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 88, while Healthcare trails at 99.
294,757 residents · Nebraska
In plain English: Lincoln is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,293/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 94. Income sits at $69,991. That alone makes it worth considering (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Cities are ranked by median household income from Census ACS data. We also show cost-adjusted purchasing power (income ÷ cost index) to reveal which high-income cities actually deliver the most real-world spending power. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Omaha ranks #1 in Nebraska for this analysis with a cost index of 96 and median income of $72,708.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Omaha (ranked #1) has a cost index of 96 and rent of $1,403/mo, while Lincoln (ranked #2) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,293/mo — a 2-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Omaha is $1,403/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $492 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Omaha is $288,850, which is 4.0× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Nebraska has a 5.84% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.94%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.54%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.