Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Bellevue?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $40,000 in Bellevue.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Bellevue?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Bellevue under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Bellevue Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,160 in Bellevue, NE. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $87,343 in Bellevue, NE — about 2% higher in Bellevue, NE. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Bellevue, NE

Rent

Studio

—

$1,106

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,008

+11% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,190

+48% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,660

+28% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$230,800

+67% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$87,343

+2% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$49,660

+20% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

36.1 yr

+0.8 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

46.0%

65.5%

+19.5 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

33.4%

+8.0 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

20.8 min

+2.1 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

100.8

+89% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

1,149.4

+66% in Aurora, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

51.1°F

+0.9°F in Bellevue, NE

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

30.6 in

+15.0 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.94/gal

+7% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

13.6

+16% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$15.53

+30% in Bellevue, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / NE)

2.9%

5.5%

+2.6 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

4.55%

+0.1 pp in NE

Aurora vs Bellevue — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Bellevue?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Bellevue?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $40,000 in Bellevue.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Bellevue?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).