

Chicago vs Omaha
$217/mo more in Omaha
ChicagoOmahaAbout 423 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Omaha leaves you more
- Property tax 1.63%
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,643/mo in Omaha. $2,426/mo in Chicago. +$2,604 a year.
Chicago
$2,426
left each month
Omaha
$2,643
+$217 vs Chicago
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 143 households moved Chicago → Omaha (avg AGI $87,056). 201 went the other way. The whole move →
+$217 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Chicago | Omaha | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $7,427 | −$782 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $1,816 | −$314 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $5,611 | −$468 |
| Rent | $1,782 | $1,089 | −$693 |
| Getting around | $392 | $545 | +$153 |
| Groceries | $408 | $368 | −$40 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $414 | −$45 |
| Utilities | $255 | $230 | −$25 |
| Everything else | $357 | $322 | −$35 |
| Left over | $2,426 | $2,643 | +$217 |
Salary to match Chicago
$85,000
Gross pay in Omaha that leaves the same amount as $98,500 in Chicago.
Tax difference
+$983
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.9% in Chicago, 24.5% in Omaha.
More about Omaha
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
Omaha, NE in full
A 21-minute commute and one of the most stable job markets in the Midwest.
The other way
Start in Omaha.
Omaha → Chicago →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Omaha than Chicago?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Omaha leaves about $217 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,089 in Omaha.
Does Omaha have state income tax?
Omaha is in Nebraska, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Chicago to Omaha?
The paycheck is taxed in Nebraska. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Chicago and Omaha changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.