Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Bellevue?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $40,000 in Bellevue.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Bellevue?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Bellevue under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Austin vs Bellevue Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,160 in Bellevue, NE. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $87,343 in Bellevue, NE — about 5% higher in Austin, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Bellevue, NE

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$1,106

+18% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,008

+31% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$1,190

+33% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,660

+22% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$230,800

+55% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$87,343

+5% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$49,660

+13% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

36.1 yr

+1.6 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

44.4%

65.5%

+21.1 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

33.4%

+24.8 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

20.8 min

+3.2 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

100.8

+79% in Austin, TX

Property Crime

3,290.7

1,149.4

+65% in Austin, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

51.1°F

+16.1°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

30.6 in

+4.3 in in Austin, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Bellevue, NE

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

13.6

+17% in Austin, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$15.53

+49% in Austin, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Bellevue, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Austin, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Bellevue, NE

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NE)

6.25%

5.5%

+0.8 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

Austin vs Bellevue — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Bellevue?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Bellevue?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $40,000 in Bellevue.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Bellevue?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).