Omaha’s Cost of Living
By: Ryan Renner, Realtor
I have helped many families moving to Omaha. Contact me if you have any questions about the Omaha area or need help buying a home.
When you move to a new a city (or are considering it), it’s important to know what it actually costs to live there. In this article we will talk about how expensive it is to live in Omaha.
Cost of living can be a little tricky to calculate.
I’ll leave it to people a little smarter than me.
Depending on where you pull the data from, the overall cost of living in Omaha is about 10% lower than the national average.
According to BestPlaces.net, Omaha’s cost of living is 9.2 percent lower than the U.S. average and 3.4 percent lower than Nebraska average.
If you are moving from New York, you’ll see a 50% reduction in living expenses. Obviously, that’s an extreme example so check out some comparison calculators to get true number.
Housing Expenses
The biggest expense for most people is housing.
If you research the median or average home price in Omaha, you have to be careful. Right now, many sites will say it’s around $250k.
That is a little deceiving because most sites will only tell you the median price of a home inside Omaha’s city limits. They won’t include new developments that haven’t officially been annexed by the city. And they won’t include Sarpy County.
If you include the entire metro area, it is likely closer to $300k.
Although homes in Omaha are affordable, property taxes are some of the highest in the country.
I created a list of reasons you may not want to move to Omaha, and taxes were high on that list.
Utilities
Living in Omaha means you’ll likely be paying less for your utilities like water, gas, and electricity. Utility costs in Omaha are about 6-7% cheaper than the national average.
Omaha’s utility providers are publicly owned (as in by the rate payers) and have historically kept rates low compared.
And if you live in the City of Omaha, your trash service is covered by property taxes – there’s no extra monthly fee.
Education Expenses
The Omaha area has wonderful public schools, but if you want to send your child to a private school, it won’t ruin your bank account. Nebraska ranks 10th in lowest average cost of private tuition.
Transportation Costs
Omaha is a car city and that can be an adjustment for some people.
Transportation costs in Omaha are 3% higher than the national average.
Public transportation exists but it’s lacking. And if you plan on living in Omaha, you really need a car.
Moving to a new city can be stressful!
Let me help. I specialize in helping people relocate to Omaha.
Accolades Omaha Has Received
U.S. News & World Report ranked Omaha #15 as on the list of Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021-2022
Also in 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked Omaha one of the 25 best places to live in the U.S.
An important factor in that decision was the area’s low cost of living and the strong job market. “Omaha area residents spend just 20.42% of the area’s median household income on housing expenses, which include rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities and more.”
Smart Asset ranked Omaha the 4th best city for first-time home buyers in 2021.
Livability.com ranked Omaha the 13th best place to live in the U.S.
I created a separate page on all the recent accolades Omaha has received.
Hidden Benefits of Omaha’s Low Cost of Living
Many people love Omaha (and stay here) because of all the freedom you get with the low cost of living. When living expenses are low, it allows you to spend money on other things.
Entertainment & Dining Out
If you have extra spending money, you can enjoy concerts, go out to eat more frequently, or visit the areas attractions.
World Travel
Many people choose to live in Omaha so they have money to travel the U.S. or the world. Although we don’t have a huge international airport, Eppley Airfield is really convenient, it’s easy to get to both coasts, and you’re one stop away from almost anywhere in the U.S. and many International destinations.
Second Home
If you’ve always dreamed about a second home, living in Omaha can make that a reality. Some people choose a vacation home in Arizona or Florida, others prefer a condo in Colorado, while others stay a little closer to home and have a home on a lake.
Country Club
Belonging to a private country club is obtainable in Omaha. You don’t need to be filthy rich, well-connected, or even like golf.
Some people become social members to enjoy a clubs private pool, gym, dining, etc.