Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Houston?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $46,000 in Houston.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Houston?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 28% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$1,142

+3% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$1,156

+15% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$1,375

+16% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,664

+0% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$253,400

+10% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$62,894

+28% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$49,410

+1% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

34.3 yr

+1.8 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

42.0%

+23.5 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

36.0%

+2.6 pp in Houston, TX

Avg Commute

20.8 min

27.3 min

+6.5 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

1,153.8

+1045% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

1,149.4

4,324.9

+276% in Houston, TX

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

70.3°F

+19.2°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

54.6 in

+24.0 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.52/gal

+11% in Bellevue, NE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

16.4

+21% in Houston, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$30.48

+96% in Houston, TX

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 Houston, TX

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / TX)

5.5%

6.25%

+0.8 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

None

+4.5 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Houston?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Houston?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).