Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Burlington, VT. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $68,854 in Burlington, VT — about 21% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$1,284
+16% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$1,275
+26% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$1,731
+45% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$2,002
+21% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$400,200
+73% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$68,854
+21% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$60,020
+21% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
26.7 yr
+9.4 yr in Bellevue, NE
Homeownership
65.5%
39.8%
+25.7 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
60.5%
+27.1 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
20.8 min
19.2 min
+1.6 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
497.1
+393% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
1,149.4
4,408.9
+284% in Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+5.1°F in Bellevue, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
36.8 in
+6.2 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Bellevue, NE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
24.9
+83% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$20.31
+31% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Bellevue, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / VT)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
8.75%
+4.2 pp in VT

Bellevue vs Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Burlington?
Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $51,000 in Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Burlington?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).