Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Idaho Falls?

Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Idaho Falls?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Idaho Falls Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/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 $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 20% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$818

+26% in Bellevue, NE

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$827

+18% in Bellevue, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$957

+20% in Bellevue, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,278

+23% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$298,600

+29% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$69,630

+20% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$46,800

+6% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

33.5 yr

+2.6 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

64.1%

+1.4 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

31.0%

+2.4 pp in Bellevue, NE

Avg Commute

20.8 min

18.2 min

+2.6 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

365.3

+262% in Idaho Falls, ID

Property Crime

1,149.4

1,235.5

+7% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

44.2°F

+6.9°F in Bellevue, NE

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

10.4 in

+20.2 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.3

14.4

+8% in Idaho Falls, ID

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.10

$11.33

+44% in Bellevue, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Idaho Falls, ID

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Idaho Falls, ID

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Idaho Falls, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / ID)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

5.30%

+0.8 pp in ID

Bellevue vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Idaho Falls?: Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Idaho Falls?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Idaho Falls?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).