CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs Omaha, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
NE
Omaha
91.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Columbia is slightly cheaper than Omaha — 2.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $82,200 in Omaha. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+24.9%
Columbia
69.2
Omaha
86.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbia
94.2
Omaha
94.1
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Columbia
97.7
Omaha
97.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Columbia
88.4
Omaha
88.3
Utilities11.2%
Columbia
86
Omaha
76.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Omaha, NE
$82,200
$2,200 more needed in Omaha

Formula: salary × (91.9 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0280. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Omaha, NE

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

Omaha has 24.9% higher housing costs compared to Columbia.

Income & Job Market

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

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).

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.