Let's follow the experience of a family man preparing for a work assignment in Omaha as he reviews unit types. He had to think about where he would stay alone first, and then where his family would join him later.

Initially, he looked at studios. They average 470 square feet, with rents around $800 to $850. It was sufficient for living alone. There are many new constructions in downtown and midtown, and there is a steady demand from single professionals.

He also considered one-bedroom units. They average 700 square feet, with rents around $950 to $1,000. This layout, with a separate bedroom and living room, was more favorable for working from home. He decided to start with a one-bedroom unit.

Before his family joined him, he also looked into two-bedroom units. They average 1,000 square feet, with rents around $1,200 to $1,300. This size is suitable for a family with one child and is the most commonly supplied type in new developments in downtown Omaha.

He compared three-bedroom units as well. They average 1,250 square feet, with rents around $1,450 to $1,550. Recent developments in Omaha show that two-bedroom units are the most prevalent, while three-bedroom units tend to be more available in suburban areas.

The price difference between one-bedroom and two-bedroom units was around $250. The gap widened a bit more when moving from two-bedroom to three-bedroom units. The trend of increasing costs with each additional room is similarly observed in Omaha.

• Studio: $800 to $850 per month, average 470 sqft
• One-bedroom: $950 to $1,000 per month, average 700 sqft
• Two-bedroom: $1,200 to $1,300 per month, average 1,000 sqft
• Three-bedroom: $1,450 to $1,550 per month, average 1,250 sqft

I recommended that he stay in a one-bedroom unit and then move to a two-bedroom unit when his family arrives. If there are two or more children, it might save time to look for three-bedroom listings from the start.

While Omaha has a lighter rental burden compared to other major cities, the trend of varying options based on unit type is not significantly different. Calculating family composition and the timing of their arrival is key.