Omaha vs Des Moines

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values shown. National average = 100. Lower is cheaper.

💰 Salary Equivalence

To maintain the same standard of living:

See exact take-home pay: Nebraska salaries · Iowa salaries

Living in Omaha vs Des Moines

Housing is typically the biggest factor in any cost-of-living comparison. Omaha has a housing index of 76 while Des Moines sits at 74 (national average = 100). The median home in Omaha costs $230,000 compared to $210,000 in Des Moines, a difference of $20,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,100 in Omaha versus $1,100 in Des Moines.

Groceries and everyday expenses show a narrower gap: Omaha scores 97 while Des Moines scores 96. Both cities are close to the national average for grocery costs.

Healthcare costs in Omaha (96) are lower than Des Moines (97). Both are close to the national average.

Median household income in Omaha is $59,612 compared to $55,958 in Des Moines. When adjusted for cost of living, purchasing power is similar in both cities.

Relocating: Omaha vs Des Moines

If you are considering a move between Omaha (index: 90) and Des Moines (index: 89), the 1% cost difference has real implications for your budget. Des Moines is the more affordable option, but the right choice depends on your income, career opportunities, and lifestyle priorities.

Housing budget reality: Using the 28% rule (spending no more than 28% of gross income on housing), the median household in Omaha can afford $1,391/month, while the median household in Des Moines can afford $1,306/month. With median homes at $230,000 in Omaha versus $210,000 in Des Moines, both cities offer reasonable homeownership opportunities at median income.

Renting vs buying: At $1,100/month in Omaha and $1,100/month in Des Moines, renters face similar costs in both cities. The rent-to-own ratio in each city determines whether renting or buying offers better value for your situation.

Income adjustment: A $75,000 salary goes further in Des Moines where costs are 11% below the national average. Before accepting a job in either city, use the salary equivalence data above to understand what you would need to earn to maintain your current standard of living.

Reading These Numbers: Omaha (90) vs Des Moines (89)

The cost of living index uses 100 as the national average. Omaha at 90 is 10% below the US average, while Des Moines at 89 is 11% below average. Both cities are relatively affordable compared to the national average.

Omaha and Des Moines land within 1 points of each other on the composite index (90 vs 89), so the overall cost picture is similar. No single category diverges by more than 2 points, which means the overall difference is distributed evenly across housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare rather than concentrated in one area. Housing costs are comparable between the two metros, with Omaha at 76 and Des Moines at 74 on the housing sub-index and median home prices of $230,000 and $210,000 respectively. Neither city is cheaper across the board: Omaha has an edge in healthcare, while Des Moines is more affordable for housing and groceries. Your actual savings depend on which categories consume the biggest share of your personal budget.

For renters: With median rents of $1,100/month in Omaha and $1,100/month in Des Moines, the annual rent difference is approximately $0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.

For homebuyers: The $20,000 difference in median home prices between Omaha and Des Moines translates to roughly $1,200 per month in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.

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