City comparison
Omaha, NE vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Omaha, NE (91.9) and Utica, NY (92.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Omaha, NE goes as far as $100,800 in Utica, NY.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,148 a month in Omaha, NE versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Omaha, NE and 15% in Utica, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,189 a year higher in Utica, NY than in Omaha, NE.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.0% moving from Omaha, NE to Utica, NY ($107,501 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.8% in real buying power.
- Omaha, NE: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Omaha, NE | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,835 in Utica | $99,172 in Omaha |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,148/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $48,970 |
| 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 Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Omaha, NE-IA and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Omaha | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.4 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 76.4 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Omaha, NE → Utica, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,189/yr.
66 Fair offer
Utica, NY → Omaha, NE
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,189/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Omaha, NE is in the Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA pay area; Utica, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Omaha, NE to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Omaha, NE | Utica, NY | Real change, Omaha → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,339 | $61,722 | −1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,425 | $74,678 | −1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,402 | $89,508 | −1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,501 | $106,437 | −1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,033 | $125,776 | −1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Omaha, NE | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Omaha dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,670 | $77,010 | $76,373 (+21.9%) |
| Software Developers | $125,220 | $113,390 | $112,452 (−10.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,030 | $79,830 | $79,169 (+2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,600 | $94,300 | $93,520 (+10.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.