CostIndexUSA

Columbus, OH vs Omaha, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Columbus
95.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Omaha
91.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Omaha is slightly cheaper than Columbus — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $77,000 in Omaha. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing1.7%
Columbus
87.9
Omaha
86.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbus
93.6
Omaha
94.1
🚗 Transportation6.1%
Columbus
103.9
Omaha
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.1%
Columbus
94
Omaha
88.3
Utilities20.0%
Columbus
95.5
Omaha
76.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Columbus to see what you'd need to earn in Omaha to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Omaha, NE
$77,000
$3,000 less needed in Omaha

Formula: salary × (91.9 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9623. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, OH

Median Home Price
$317,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
87.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Omaha, NE

Median Home Price
$295,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
86.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.6×

Columbus has 1.7% lower housing costs compared to Omaha.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, OH

Median Household Income
$77,400
Per Capita Income
$44,100
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
905,748
Top Industries
FinanceRetailHealthcareEducationGovernment

Omaha, NE

Median Household Income
$81,400
Per Capita Income
$46,400
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
486,051
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareTelecommunicationsManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Columbus, OH
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Omaha, NE
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.