City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
The cost gap between Los Angeles and Omaha is the real story here. Omaha comes in 39% cheaper on typical rent ($1,933 vs $1,187), which over a year adds up to $8,952. Median household income runs $81,939 in Los Angeles and $73,201 in Omaha.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Omaha costs less and Los Angeles pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Omaha at $1,187 average has pockets that run $987 and others at $1,587: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Omaha are 1,313 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $746 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $73,201 in Omaha, down $8,738 (11%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 141 in Omaha, down 17 points (11%).
The move
Omaha and Los Angeles are 1,313 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $746 a month (63%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $8,738 (12%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 158 in Los Angeles, up 17 points (12%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Omaha rent is 39% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Omaha is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $746/month back in your pocket ($8,952/year). Over five years that's $44,760 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Omaha is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 12% higher than Omaha
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Omaha
$73,201
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Los Angeles (about $8,738 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Los Angeles is the stronger labor market on paper. Omaha can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
11% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 11% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Omaha. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Omaha, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Los Angeles. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Los Angeles weather is 20% more comfortable than Omaha
Los Angeles
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Los Angeles scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Omaha if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 12% higher ($81,939), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,187 a month. Choose Omaha if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Los Angeles (141 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,187/month in Omaha versus $1,933 in Los Angeles. Median income reads $73,201 in Omaha and $81,939 in Los Angeles, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Omaha rent at $1,187/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 46/100 in Los Angeles and 50/100 in Omaha.
Omaha clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Los Angeles deserves a serious look only when your $81,939 income offer in Los Angeles outweighs saving $746/month in Omaha.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and Omaha, plus other cities in CA and NE.
