City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Omaha is significant: $123,860 median household versus $73,201. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,187 in Omaha.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle 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. 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
Seattle and Omaha are 1,366 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $843 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $73,201 in Omaha, down $50,659 (41%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 141 in Omaha, down 111 points (44%).
The move
Omaha and Seattle are 1,366 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $843 a month (71%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $123,860 in Seattle, up $50,659 (69%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 252 in Seattle, up 111 points (79%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Omaha rent is 42% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Omaha is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $843/month back in your pocket ($10,116/year). Over five years that's $50,580 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 Seattle, 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
69% higher
Seattle's median income is 69% higher than Omaha
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Omaha
$73,201
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 69% higher in Seattle (about $50,659 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, Seattle 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
44% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 44% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 15% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Omaha
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 15% 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 Seattle 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 and professional growth
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 69% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% 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.
Pick Omaha if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 15%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Omaha is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than Seattle (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Omaha at $1,187/month versus $2,030 in Seattle ($843 apart). Seattle median income is $123,860 against $73,201 in Omaha, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Omaha rent at $1,187/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 32/100 in Seattle and 50/100 in Omaha.
Pick Omaha when shaving $843 off rent at $1,187/month is the priority. Otherwise, Seattle's case rests on $2,030/month rent with $123,860 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Omaha, plus other cities in WA and NE.
