Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Charlotte, NC. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $78,438 in Charlotte, NC — about 10% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$1,424
+29% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$1,374
+36% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$1,491
+25% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,663
+0% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$351,500
+52% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$78,438
+10% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$49,990
+1% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
34.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Bellevue, NE
Homeownership
65.5%
51.5%
+14.0 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
47.4%
+14.0 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
20.8 min
25.0 min
+4.2 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
733.1
+627% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
1,149.4
3,718.9
+224% in Charlotte, NC

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
59.9°F
+8.8°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
41.6 in
+11.0 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
15.1
+11% in Charlotte, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$27.56
+77% in Charlotte, NC

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 Charlotte, NC
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / NC)
5.5%
4.75%
+0.8 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
3.99%
+0.6 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Charlotte — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Charlotte?
Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Charlotte?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $55,000 in Charlotte.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Charlotte?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Charlotte under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).