City comparison
Yes. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,187 in Omaha.
Safety is where Omaha and St Louis split most clearly. Omaha scores 211 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,187 in Omaha and $997 in St Louis.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Omaha is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Omaha and St Louis are 354 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $997 a month in St Louis, down $190 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $56,160 in St Louis, down $17,041 (23%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 352 in St Louis, up 211 points (150%).
The move
St Louis and Omaha are 354 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,187 a month in Omaha, up $190 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $73,201 in Omaha, up $17,041 (30%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 141 in Omaha, down 211 points (60%).
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Omaha and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
St Louis rent is 16% cheaper than Omaha
Omaha
$1,187/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,187 in Omaha, so St Louis is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,280, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Omaha.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Omaha's median income is 30% higher than St Louis
Omaha
Winner$73,201
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Omaha (about $17,041 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, Omaha is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
60% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 60% lower than St Louis
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% lower in Omaha. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Omaha is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 4% more comfortable than St Louis
Omaha
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 4% 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 St Louis 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 30% higher ($73,201), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 60% lower than St Louis (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Omaha: Omaha scores 50/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,187 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 28 safety points for housing savings.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Omaha's $1,187, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,187 in Omaha.
If safety drives your move, Omaha is the stronger match (50/100 safety versus 22/100). If an employer or family tie already points to St Louis, treat $997/month rent and $56,160 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Omaha?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Omaha when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Omaha and St Louis, plus other cities in NE and MO.
