Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/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 $940 in Fargo, ND. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $66,029 in Fargo, ND — about 24% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Fargo, ND

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$671
+39% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$804
+20% in Bellevue, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$956
+20% in Bellevue, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,368
+18% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$269,800
+17% in Fargo, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$66,029
+24% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$51,050
+3% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
32.2 yr
+3.9 yr in Bellevue, NE
Homeownership
65.5%
44.1%
+21.4 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
43.2%
+9.8 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
20.8 min
15.8 min
+5.0 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
504.9
+401% in Fargo, ND
Property Crime
1,149.4
3,726.4
+224% in Fargo, ND

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
42.4°F
+8.7°F in Bellevue, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
22.6 in
+8.0 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
13.6
+0% in Fargo, ND
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$11.39
+27% in Bellevue, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / ND)
5.5%
5%
+0.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
2.50%
+2.0 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Fargo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Fargo?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Fargo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $32,000 in Fargo.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Fargo?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Fargo under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).