Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Fairbanks?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $43,000 in Fairbanks.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Fairbanks?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Fairbanks under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Fairbanks Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK — about 17% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Fairbanks, AK

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$883

+20% in Bellevue, NE

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$1,076

+7% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$1,428

+20% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$2,019

+22% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$255,700

+11% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$72,077

+17% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$61,810

+24% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

28.6 yr

+7.5 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

40.5%

+25.0 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

26.5%

+6.9 pp in Bellevue, NE

Avg Commute

20.8 min

14.1 min

+6.7 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

726.1

+620% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

1,149.4

3,504.2

+205% in Fairbanks, AK

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

27.7°F

+23.4°F in Bellevue, NE

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

10.8 in

+19.8 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.3

28.2

+113% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.10

$17.35

+14% in Bellevue, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / AK)

5.5%

None

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

None

+4.5 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Fairbanks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Fairbanks?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Fairbanks?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $43,000 in Fairbanks.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Fairbanks?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Fairbanks under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).