Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Cambridge?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 59% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Cambridge?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 59% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 31% higher in Cambridge, MA. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$2,236

+102% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$2,496

+148% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$2,980

+150% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$3,325

+100% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$1,040,500

+351% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$126,469

+45% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$66,620

+34% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

30.5 yr

+5.6 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

33.7%

+31.8 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

80.2%

+46.8 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

20.8 min

26.1 min

+5.3 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

436.7

+333% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

1,149.4

2,657.6

+131% in Cambridge, MA

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

51.5°F

+0.4°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

43.8 in

+13.2 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.3

29.6

+123% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.10

$30.66

+53% in Cambridge, MA

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 Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / MA)

5.5%

6.25%

+0.8 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

9.00%

+4.5 pp in MA

Bellevue vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Cambridge?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 59% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Cambridge?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).