Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Denver?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $63,000 in Denver.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Denver?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Denver Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 5% higher in Denver, CO. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Denver, CO

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$1,497

+35% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$1,583

+57% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$1,958

+65% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$2,269

+37% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$586,700

+154% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$91,681

+5% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$62,320

+25% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

35.2 yr

+0.9 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

49.1%

+16.4 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

55.6%

+22.2 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

20.8 min

25.4 min

+4.6 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

999.3

+891% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

1,149.4

4,781.1

+316% in Denver, CO

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

50.2°F

+0.9°F in Bellevue, NE

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

15.6 in

+15.0 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.27/gal

+9% in Denver, CO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

16.2

+19% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$11.92

+23% in Bellevue, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Denver, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / CO)

5.5%

2.9%

+2.6 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

4.40%

+0.1 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Denver?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Denver?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Denver?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).