Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Birmingham?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Birmingham?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Birmingham under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Birmingham Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,160 in Bellevue, NE versus $1,190 in Birmingham, AL. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $44,376 in Birmingham, AL — about 49% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Birmingham, AL

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$857

+23% in Bellevue, NE

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$1,004

+0% in Bellevue, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$1,005

+16% in Bellevue, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,188

+28% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$138,600

+40% in Bellevue, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$44,376

+49% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$47,770

+4% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

35.9 yr

+0.2 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

45.1%

+20.4 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

30.7%

+2.7 pp in Bellevue, NE

Avg Commute

20.8 min

21.5 min

+0.7 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

1,274.7

+1165% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

1,149.4

4,233

+268% in Birmingham, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.1°F

63.3°F

+12.2°F in Birmingham, AL

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

53.7 in

+23.1 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Bellevue, NE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

16.8

+23% in Birmingham, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$22.64

+46% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Bellevue, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Birmingham, AL

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Bellevue, NE

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / AL)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

5.00%

+0.5 pp in AL

Bellevue vs Birmingham — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Birmingham?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Birmingham?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $40,000 in Birmingham.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Birmingham?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Birmingham under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).