City comparison
Omaha, NE vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Omaha, NE (91.9) and Spartanburg, SC (91.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Omaha, NE goes as far as $99,100 in Spartanburg, SC.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,148 a month in Omaha, NE versus $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Omaha, NE and 17% in Spartanburg, SC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,172 a year higher in Spartanburg, SC than in Omaha, NE.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.0% moving from Omaha, NE to Spartanburg, SC ($107,501 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.1% in real buying power.
- Omaha, NE: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Omaha, NE | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,064 in Spartanburg | $100,945 in Omaha |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,148/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA HUD Metro FMR Area and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Omaha, NE-IA and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Omaha | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.4 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 76.4 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Omaha, NE → Spartanburg, SC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,172/yr.
72 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Omaha, NE
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,172/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Omaha, NE is in the Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Omaha, NE to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Omaha, NE | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Omaha → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,339 | $61,722 | −0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,425 | $74,678 | −0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,402 | $89,508 | −0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,501 | $106,437 | −0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,033 | $125,776 | −0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Omaha, NE | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Omaha dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,670 | $60,990 | $61,566 (−1.8%) |
| Software Developers | $125,220 | $114,460 | $115,541 (−7.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,030 | $77,080 | $77,808 (+1.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,600 | $82,360 | $83,138 (−1.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.