OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha area's historically low cost of living is on the rise, largely due to increased demand for housing that has driven up the cost of buying or renting a home.
Omaha's cost of living is still 95 percent the national average, making it an affordable alternative to larger cities on the coasts, according to the Omaha World-Herald. It's no longer as competitive when compared to other Midwestern cities, such as Oklahoma City, which is at 85 percent of the national average.
This shift means a person's salary doesn't go as far as it used to, said David Drozd, a research coordinator for the Center for Public Affairs Research at UNO.
The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce is looking for ways to address the cost of living shift, as the area is also dealing with a labor shortage because workers have been leaving the state.
