Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/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 $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 31% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$798
+28% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$782
+22% in Bellevue, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$984
+17% in Bellevue, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,100
+34% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$169,700
+26% in Bellevue, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$60,293
+31% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$47,700
+4% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.0 yr
+1.1 yr in Bellevue, NE
Homeownership
65.5%
62.2%
+3.3 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
28.5%
+4.9 pp in Bellevue, NE
Avg Commute
20.8 min
21.4 min
+0.6 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
308.9
+206% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
1,149.4
2,245.4
+95% in Fort Wayne, IN

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
50.5°F
+0.6°F in Bellevue, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
38.3 in
+7.7 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
18.1
+34% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$13.70
+12% 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 / IN)
5.5%
7%
+1.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
2.95%
+1.6 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Fort Wayne?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).