Omaha, NE vs Kansas City, MO: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Kansas City, MO and Omaha, NE are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Omaha works out to about $75,500 in Kansas City, before taxes.
- Housing is 0.3% higher in Kansas City, goods 0.1% higher and other services 0.4% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 16.6% higher in Kansas City.
- Typical asking rent is $1,534 a month in Kansas City and $1,398 in Omaha, $1,632 a year more in Kansas City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $325,000 in Kansas City and $306,000 in Omaha.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.1%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Omaha and Kansas City
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Omaha, NE | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.9 | 92.5 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 86.4 | 86.6 |
| Utilities | 76.4 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 93.4 |
| Category | Omaha | Kansas City | Kansas City vs Omaha |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.9 | 92.5 | +0.7% |
| Goods | 94.1 | 94.1 | +0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 86.4 | 86.6 | +0.3% |
| Utilities | 76.4 | 89.0 | +16.6% |
| Other services | 93.0 | 93.4 | +0.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,398 | $1,534 | +9.7% |
| Typical home value | $306,000 | $325,000 | +6.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Omaha | $75,000 | $75,500 | +0.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Omaha and Kansas City has narrowed since 2008: 3.0 points then, 0.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Omaha, NE | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.0 | 93.1 |
| 2009 | 96.2 | 95.0 |
| 2010 | 95.8 | 96.0 |
| 2011 | 94.2 | 96.6 |
| 2012 | 95.7 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 95.1 | 95.8 |
| 2014 | 95.6 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 94.2 | 98.6 |
| 2016 | 94.6 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 94.1 | 96.9 |
| 2018 | 94.2 | 94.2 |
| 2019 | 94.9 | 94.9 |
| 2020 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2021 | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 92.5 | 93.2 |
| 2024 | 91.9 | 92.5 |
Goods
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Omaha, NE | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.6 | 92.4 |
| 2009 | 97.0 | 98.9 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 96.0 |
| 2011 | 96.1 | 96.6 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 97.8 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 97.5 |
| 2014 | 98.1 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 97.9 | 98.8 |
| 2016 | 97.3 | 97.8 |
| 2017 | 95.9 | 98.0 |
| 2018 | 94.7 | 95.1 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 96.0 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 94.5 | 94.0 |
| 2022 | 93.8 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
Housing (rents)
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Omaha, NE | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 84.8 | 88.8 |
| 2009 | 87.6 | 85.3 |
| 2010 | 88.7 | 88.2 |
| 2011 | 87.4 | 87.3 |
| 2012 | 92.9 | 85.3 |
| 2013 | 85.5 | 86.9 |
| 2014 | 89.4 | 84.1 |
| 2015 | 85.3 | 87.1 |
| 2016 | 86.7 | 85.3 |
| 2017 | 88.7 | 85.4 |
| 2018 | 86.5 | 83.3 |
| 2019 | 85.8 | 84.6 |
| 2020 | 88.6 | 87.6 |
| 2021 | 86.5 | 84.8 |
| 2022 | 87.0 | 85.6 |
| 2023 | 87.3 | 88.0 |
| 2024 | 86.4 | 86.6 |
Utilities
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Omaha, NE | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 81.0 | 86.3 |
| 2009 | 83.2 | 88.8 |
| 2010 | 81.7 | 90.3 |
| 2011 | 83.5 | 90.4 |
| 2012 | 85.6 | 85.6 |
| 2013 | 85.2 | 86.1 |
| 2014 | 80.2 | 83.8 |
| 2015 | 81.2 | 95.4 |
| 2016 | 79.0 | 95.8 |
| 2017 | 83.8 | 101.0 |
| 2018 | 88.5 | 99.2 |
| 2019 | 86.9 | 97.9 |
| 2020 | 88.3 | 99.0 |
| 2021 | 87.3 | 97.1 |
| 2022 | 86.7 | 98.0 |
| 2023 | 81.0 | 91.4 |
| 2024 | 76.4 | 89.0 |
Other services
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Omaha, NE | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.5 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 99.2 | 95.7 |
| 2010 | 98.4 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 95.6 | 99.8 |
| 2012 | 96.1 | 100.6 |
| 2013 | 97.4 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 96.7 | 102.0 |
| 2015 | 95.2 | 102.2 |
| 2016 | 96.1 | 100.6 |
| 2017 | 95.0 | 99.4 |
| 2018 | 96.5 | 96.6 |
| 2019 | 96.7 | 96.6 |
| 2020 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2021 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2022 | 92.4 | 92.3 |
| 2023 | 91.9 | 92.6 |
| 2024 | 93.0 | 93.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,534 in Kansas City vs $1,398 in Omaha
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Omaha, NE | Kansas City, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $847 | $868 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $851 | $881 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $857 | $888 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $855 | $885 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $870 | $898 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $881 | $910 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $886 | $923 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $888 | $922 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $904 | $934 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $917 | $953 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $921 | $960 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $914 | $963 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $926 | $972 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $945 | $990 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $950 | $993 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $945 | $992 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $960 | $1,009 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $981 | $1,031 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $983 | $1,032 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $984 | $1,031 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,001 | $1,050 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,025 | $1,072 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,031 | $1,092 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,020 | $1,083 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,040 | $1,109 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,085 | $1,156 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,107 | $1,179 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,117 | $1,192 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,137 | $1,219 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,183 | $1,269 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,207 | $1,293 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,209 | $1,288 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,241 | $1,307 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,270 | $1,344 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,278 | $1,348 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,274 | $1,356 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,289 | $1,374 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,319 | $1,408 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,330 | $1,419 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,327 | $1,412 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,350 | $1,445 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,369 | $1,470 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,375 | $1,477 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,385 | $1,472 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,397 | $1,490 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,406 | $1,519 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,398 | $1,534 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $325,000 in Kansas City vs $306,000 in Omaha
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Omaha, NE | Kansas City, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $153K | $152K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $155K | $154K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $158K | $157K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $160K | $160K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $163K | $163K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $164K | $166K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $166K | $169K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $168K | $172K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $171K | $176K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $174K | $180K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $177K | $182K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $180K | $185K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $183K | $190K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $186K | $194K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $188K | $197K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $190K | $199K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $193K | $202K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $196K | $205K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $199K | $205K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $203K | $208K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $207K | $213K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $210K | $216K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $215K | $221K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $224K | $232K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $233K | $241K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $244K | $254K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $246K | $258K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $247K | $260K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $259K | $273K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $272K | $285K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $272K | $285K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $273K | $284K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $276K | $286K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $283K | $292K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $287K | $297K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $287K | $299K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $290K | $301K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $293K | $304K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $294K | $306K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $296K | $309K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $298K | $311K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $297K | $310K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $298K | $313K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $302K | $317K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $303K | $320K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $303K | $321K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $306K | $325K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Omaha, NE
- Cost of living in Kansas City, MO
- Reverse: moving from Kansas City to Omaha
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.