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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,610 in Omaha, NE, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,632 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,930 in Omaha, NE, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,681 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,249 in Omaha, NE, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 37% more than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Omaha, NE sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Omaha, NE by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$19.86 $19.86

25.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$74.6 $74.6

60.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.33 $11.33

22.68%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.17 $5.17

7.54%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.97 $2.97

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.91 $1.91

29.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.15 $5.15

54.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$6.99 $6.99

14.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.89 $0.89

50.56%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.10 $3.10

62.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.42 $4.42

21.27%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.46 $3.46

90.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$11.71 $11.71

116.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$10.67 $10.67

51.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.90 $15.90

27.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$6.53 $6.53

-8.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.17 $2.17

26.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$5.93 $5.93

-9.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$5.02 $5.02

31.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.78 $1.78

82.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.74 $2.74

38.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.01 $2.01

35.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.58 $2.58

-1.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$9.57 $9.57

18.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$15.24 $15.24

6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.82 $1.82

56.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.53 $4.53

-8.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.27 $1.27

111.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

$54.5 $54.5

78.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.95 $2.95

-8.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.40 $1.40

23.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$25.54 $25.54

15.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.81 $0.81

48.15%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$35.6K $35.6K

-5.63%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.9K $26.9K

-3.24%

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

$266 $266

$325 $325

-18.03%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$53.5 $53.5

12.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$67.0 $67.0

13.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$49.54 $49.54

59.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

$28.47 $28.47

42.29%

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$13.80 $13.80

17.54%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$912 $912

149.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$24.6K $24.6K

20.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$55.5 $55.5

25.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$37.68 $37.68

39.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$95.4 $95.4

25.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$112 $112

27.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,486 $1,486

59.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,176 $1,176

58.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$3,276 $3,276

44.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,124 $2,124

65.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$1,939 $1,939

297.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$1,824 $1,824

195.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$3,895 $3,895

66.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.5

-1.23%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Omaha, NE: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,486 in Omaha, NE. 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 67% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $75.0 in Omaha, NE. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $544 vs $401 – making Omaha, NE the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Seattle, WA vs Omaha, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,374 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,916 in Omaha, NE. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Omaha, NE, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,583 in Seattle, WA and $2,610 in Omaha, NE. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 78% less in Omaha, NE. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,583 in Seattle, WA and $2,610 in Omaha, NE. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Omaha, NE. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.