Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Buffalo?

Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $34,000 in Buffalo.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Buffalo?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Buffalo under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Buffalo Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Buffalo

New York

$1,150/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 $1,150 in Buffalo, NY. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $48,050 in Buffalo, NY — about 45% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Buffalo, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$812

+27% in Bellevue, NE

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$849

+16% in Bellevue, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$954

+20% in Bellevue, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,080

+35% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$152,300

+34% in Bellevue, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$48,050

+45% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$50,790

+2% in Buffalo, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

34.3 yr

+1.8 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

42.7%

+22.8 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

30.3%

+3.1 pp in Bellevue, NE

Avg Commute

20.8 min

19.9 min

+0.9 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

770.5

+664% in Buffalo, NY

Property Crime

1,149.4

4,003.2

+248% in Buffalo, NY

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

48.3°F

+2.8°F in Bellevue, NE

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

40.5 in

+9.9 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.04/gal

+3% in Buffalo, NY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

29.9

+120% in Buffalo, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$22.74

+46% in Buffalo, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Buffalo, NY

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Buffalo, NY

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Buffalo, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Buffalo, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / NY)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

10.90%

+6.4 pp in NY

Bellevue vs Buffalo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Buffalo?: Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Buffalo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $34,000 in Buffalo.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Buffalo?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Buffalo under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% 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).