Cost of Living Comparison Between Omaha, NE and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Omaha, NE and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,667 in Omaha, NE versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,949 in Omaha, NE versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,231 in Omaha, NE versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs are close between Omaha, NE and Austin, TX; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Omaha, NE 99% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.33 $20.33

$19.63 $19.63

3.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.6 $74.6

$75.1 $75.1

-0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.44 $11.44

$9.92 $9.92

15.32%

Cappuccino

$5.21 $5.21

$5.67 $5.67

-8.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.77 $2.77

5.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.17 $2.17

-8.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$5.84 $5.84

-12.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.09 $7.09

$7.77 $7.77

-8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.09 $1.09

-12.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.41 $3.41

-8.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$3.43 $3.43

30.61%

Eggs

$3.43 $3.43

$4.39 $4.39

-21.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.77 $11.77

$11.95 $11.95

-1.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$10.76 $10.76

0.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 $15.87

$14.29 $14.29

11.06%

Apples (1kg)

$6.75 $6.75

$4.84 $4.84

39.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.55 $1.55

43.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.11 $6.11

$4.46 $4.46

37.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.91 $3.91

28.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.74 $2.74

-34.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.74 $2.74

2.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.04 $2.04

1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.25 $2.25

13.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.65 $9.65

$8.93 $8.93

8.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.85 $14.85

1.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.35 $2.35

-24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 $4.65

$3.57 $3.57

30.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.47 $1.47

-12.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 $55.3

$42.98 $42.98

28.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.28 $4.28

-31.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.84 $1.84

-27.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.64 $24.64

$35.54 $35.54

-30.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.72 $0.72

20.83%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K $34.7K

$25.7K $25.7K

34.89%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$326 $326

$174 $174

87.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.5 $53.5

$60.2 $60.2

-11.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$66.3 $66.3

2.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.91 $49.91

$62.8 $62.8

-20.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.86 $28.86

$9.83 $9.83

193.59%

Cinema Ticket

$13.93 $13.93

$15.24 $15.24

-8.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$936 $936

$1,387 $1,387

-32.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.1K $25.1K

$22.2K $22.2K

13.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 $55.9

$56.7 $56.7

-1.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.58 $37.58

$45.34 $45.34

-17.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$86.5 $86.5

11.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$119 $119

-6.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,456 $1,456

$2,247 $2,247

-35.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 $1,178

$1,430 $1,430

-17.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,253 $3,253

$3,778 $3,778

-13.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,108 $2,108

$2,641 $2,641

-20.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,929 $1,929

$7,044 $7,044

-72.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,837 $1,837

$3,162 $3,162

-41.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,851 $3,851

$5,108 $5,108

-24.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.45

0.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Omaha, NE: June 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,456 in Omaha, NE and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 33% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $75.0 in Omaha, NE vs $75.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $404 vs $377, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Omaha, NE vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, Austin, TX earns 33% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,456 in Omaha, NE versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $936 in Omaha, NE versus $1,387 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $75.0 in Omaha, NE. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,667 in Omaha, NE, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Austin, TX but tight or insufficient in Omaha, NE. The gap between the two cities makes Austin, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Omaha, NE and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Austin, TX wins on affordability, Omaha, NE on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.