Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Omaha, NE and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Omaha, NE: $2,581 a month against $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Omaha, NE, United States
Seattle, WA, United States
Omaha, NE
🇺🇸 United States
$2,581
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,762
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Omaha, NE and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Omaha, NE and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,581 per month in Omaha, NE vs $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

  • Omaha, NE $2,581
  • Seattle, WA $3,762

A couple spends around $3,791 per month in Omaha, NE vs $5,651 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

  • Omaha, NE $3,791
  • Seattle, WA $5,651

A family of three spends $5,001 per month in Omaha, NE vs $7,541 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

  • Omaha, NE $5,001
  • Seattle, WA $7,541

Omaha, NE is about 31% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Omaha, NE and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Omaha, NE by 91%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Omaha, NE
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.04 $20.04
$23.80 $23.80
-15.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.0 $75.0
$98.6 $98.6
-23.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.89 $11.89
$14.94 $14.94
-20.41%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$6.79 $6.79
-27.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.23 $3.23
-20.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$3.15 $3.15
-41.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 $6.17
$8.21 $8.21
-24.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.28 $7.28
$7.87 $7.87
-7.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Omaha, NE
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.17 $1.17
-18.80%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 $3.14
$5.29 $5.29
-40.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$5.76 $5.76
-33.68%
Eggs
$4.08 $4.08
$4.89 $4.89
-16.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.23 $11.23
$20.25 $20.25
-44.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.42 $12.42
$17.95 $17.95
-30.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.59 $16.59
$23.35 $23.35
-28.95%
Apples (1kg)
$5.38 $5.38
$5.94 $5.94
-9.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.89 $1.89
7.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$5.35 $5.35
-21.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$6.57 $6.57
-43.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 $1.81
$3.39 $3.39
-46.61%
Onion (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.88 $2.88
4.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.89 $2.89
-33.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.43 $2.43
16.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.85 $8.85
$12.18 $12.18
-27.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 $14.71
$15.24 $15.24
-3.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$4.38 $4.38
-60.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86 $5.86
$5.89 $5.89
-0.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Omaha, NE
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.96 $2.96
-58.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 $55.3
$109 $109
-49.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.52 $2.52
15.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.72 $1.72
-19.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.49 $25.49
$29.70 $29.70
-14.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.51 $1.51
-31.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K $32.8K
$36.2K $36.2K
-9.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.7K $25.7K
2.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Omaha, NE
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$275 $275
$289 $289
-4.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.8 $62.8
$69.1 $69.1
-9.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$84.8 $84.8
-14.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Omaha, NE
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.40 $45.40
$69.4 $69.4
-34.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.90 $35.90
$35.05 $35.05
2.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.89 $14.89
$17.97 $17.97
-17.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Omaha, NE
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,028 $1,028
$2,819 $2,819
-63.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K $14.2K
$43.9K $43.9K
-67.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Omaha, NE
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 $53.5
$91.2 $91.2
-41.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.52 $40.52
$55.1 $55.1
-26.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.6 $95.6
$127 $127
-24.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$162 $162
-27.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Omaha, NE
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,439 $1,439
$2,579 $2,579
-44.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 $1,174
$1,943 $1,943
-39.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,772 $2,772
$5,100 $5,100
-45.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,968 $1,968
$3,541 $3,541
-44.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,989 $1,989
$7,357 $7,357
-72.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,778 $1,778
$4,921 $4,921
-63.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Omaha, NE
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,930 $3,930
$6,448 $6,448
-39.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.8
-3.97%

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

Last update for Omaha, NE: November 1, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Omaha, NE
$1.2K
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 65.5% $769
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Omaha, NE
$410
Seattle, WA
$443 7.9% $32
Groceries & Markets
Omaha, NE
$396
Seattle, WA
$544 37.5% $148
Eating Out
Omaha, NE
$318
Seattle, WA
$399 25.3% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Omaha, NE
$138
Seattle, WA
$196 42.1% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Omaha, NE
$75
Seattle, WA
$105 40.2% $30
Getting Around
Omaha, NE
$70
Seattle, WA
$132 88.6% $62

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,439 in Omaha, NE versus $2,579 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 64% higher in Seattle, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Omaha, NE versus $99 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $544 – making Omaha, NE the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Omaha, NE
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
11:23 11:23 AM
09:23 9:23 AM
2 h behind Omaha, NE
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
486,051
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Omaha, NE Seattle, WA 2,200 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Omaha, NE
  • Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Omaha, NE cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 46%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,872 per month in Omaha, NE and $5,642 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Omaha, NE, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,439 there versus $2,579 in Seattle, WA.
What are total monthly expenses in Omaha, NE and in Seattle, WA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,581 in Omaha, NE and $3,762 in Seattle, WA. That makes Omaha, NE about 31% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 49% less in Omaha, NE. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Omaha, NE or in Seattle, WA?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,581 in Omaha, NE and $3,762 in Seattle, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Omaha, NE or Seattle, WA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Omaha, NE – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Omaha, NE. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Omaha, NE vs other spots: cost of living compared

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