City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Omaha, NE
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 5.5% higher than in Omaha, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Omaha, NE would need about $105,500 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI and $1,148 in Omaha, NE.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,919 a year in WI and $3,670 in NE.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Omaha, NE ($111,310 → $107,501), while prices change by −5.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.9% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Omaha, NE: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Milwaukee, WI | Omaha, NE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 91.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,815 in Omaha | $105,468 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,148/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $75,510 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,670 (NE) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $49,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Omaha, NE-IA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 86.4 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 76.4 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 91.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Omaha, NE
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$249/yr.
86 Strong offer
Omaha, NE → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$249/yr.
53 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Omaha, NE is in Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Omaha, NE at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Omaha, NE | Real change, Milwaukee → Omaha |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $62,339 | +1.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $75,425 | +1.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $90,402 | +1.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $107,501 | +1.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $127,033 | +1.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Omaha, NE | Omaha pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $62,670 | $66,097 (+7.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $125,220 | $132,067 (+6.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $77,030 | $81,242 (+1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $84,600 | $89,226 (−8.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.