Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Bellevue?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Bellevue?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $40,000 in Bellevue.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Bellevue?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Bellevue under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Bellevue Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,160 in Bellevue, NE. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $87,343 in Bellevue, NE — about 11% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Bellevue, NE

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$1,106

+10% in Bellevue, NE

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$1,008

+4% in Anchorage, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,190

+17% in Anchorage, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,660

+15% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$230,800

+39% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$87,343

+11% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$49,660

+18% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

36.1 yr

+1.2 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

63.7%

65.5%

+1.8 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

33.4%

+4.3 pp in Anchorage, AK

Avg Commute

19.0 min

20.8 min

+1.8 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

100.8

+90% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

1,149.4

+59% in Anchorage, AK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

37.4°F

51.1°F

+13.7°F in Bellevue, NE

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

30.6 in

+12.7 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

13.6

+52% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.40

$15.53

+8% in Bellevue, NE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Anchorage, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Anchorage, AK

Average prices — West vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / NE)

None

5.5%

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

Anchorage vs Bellevue — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Bellevue?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Bellevue?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $40,000 in Bellevue.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Bellevue?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Bellevue under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).