Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Jackson?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Jackson?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/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 $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 50% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$1,085

+2% in Bellevue, NE

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$816

+19% in Bellevue, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$991

+17% in Bellevue, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,121

+32% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$108,200

+53% in Bellevue, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$43,238

+50% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$42,850

+14% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

34.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

48.6%

+16.9 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

28.6%

+4.8 pp in Bellevue, NE

Avg Commute

20.8 min

20.2 min

+0.6 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

—

Property Crime

1,149.4

—

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

65.3°F

+14.2°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

54.3 in

+23.7 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Bellevue, NE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

16.2

+19% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$27.68

+78% in Jackson, MS

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 Jackson, MS

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 / MS)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

4.00%

+0.5 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Jackson?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Jackson?: 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 Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Jackson?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).