Omaha vs Rockford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Omaha
Rockford
💡 The Verdict
Rockford is 11% cheaper than Omaha overall. A $75,000 salary in Omaha is equivalent to $66,667 in Rockford.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Omaha (left) vs Rockford (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Omaha versus Rockford. Differences shown from Omaha perspective.
| Item | Omaha | Rockford | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $790/mo | $870/mo | $-80.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,100/mo | $1,230/mo | $-130.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,460/mo | $1,520/mo | $-60.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.70 | $2.56 | +$0.14 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.72 | $3.40 | +$0.32 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.24 | $3.06 | +$0.18 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.06 | $4.75 | +$1.31 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.12 | $3.00 | +$0.12 |
| Restaurant Meal | $12.40 | $12.96 | $-0.56 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Omaha has the same purchasing power as $66,667 in Rockford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Rockford equals $84,375 in Omaha.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $525 difference is driven by Nebraska having a higher state income tax rate. Nebraska details → · Illinois details →
Reading These Numbers: Omaha (90) vs Rockford (80)
Omaha at 90 is 10% below the US average, while Rockford at 80 is 20% below average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Omaha, the composite index of 90 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 76, followed by groceries (97), utilities (93), transportation (100), and healthcare (96). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,100/mo in Omaha and $1,230/mo in Rockford, the annual rent difference is approximately $1,560.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $7,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $80,000.0 difference in median home prices between Omaha and Rockford translates to meaningful differences 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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Making Your Decision: Omaha vs Rockford
Choosing between Omaha and Rockford involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Omaha against Rockford, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.