🇺🇸 United States · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Omaha? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed apartment, Blackstone, Aksarben or midtownUSD 1,000–1,400 / month
One-bed apartment, Benson, Dundee fringe or Council BluffsUSD 800–1,150 / month
Three-bed house rental, Millard or west OmahaUSD 1,700–2,400 / month
Electricity and gas, one-bed, JanuaryUSD 95–170 / month
Groceries, one personUSD 320–430 / month
Dinner for one at a midtown restaurant, before the 2.5% city occupation taxUSD 18–30
Est. monthly living costs for one person, excl. rentUSD 1,000–1,400 / month
Good to know
Population
≈490,000 in the city — the largest in Nebraska — in a metro of about 985,000 that spans the Missouri River into Iowa
Languages
English; Spanish is the significant second language, alongside notable Karen, Nuer, Sudanese Arabic and Vietnamese-speaking communities from four decades of refugee resettlement
Currency
United States dollar (USD)
Time zone
CST (GMT-6); CDT (GMT-5) from mid-March to early November
Power plug
Types A and B, 120 V / 60 Hz
Climate
Humid continental — hot humid summers, genuinely cold winters with wind chill and blizzards, and a spring severe-storm and tornado season
Driving side
Right
Electricity
Omaha Public Power District — publicly owned, no retail choice. Nebraska is the only US state served entirely by consumer-owned electric utilities
Minimum wage
$15.00 an hour statewide from 1 January 2026, under a 2022 voter initiative — among the higher state floors in the country
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Omaha checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Omaha
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.