Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Las Cruces?

Las Cruces, NM 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 Las Cruces?

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 Las Cruces.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Las Cruces?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Las Cruces under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Las Cruces Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Las Cruces

New Mexico

$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 Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM 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 $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 37% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$597

+46% in Bellevue, NE

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$793

+21% in Bellevue, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$888

+25% in Bellevue, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,177

+29% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$217,400

+6% in Bellevue, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$55,176

+37% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$42,070

+15% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

32.7 yr

+3.4 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

55.6%

+9.9 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

37.3%

+3.9 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Avg Commute

20.8 min

18.7 min

+2.1 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

726

+620% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

1,149.4

4,899.2

+326% in Las Cruces, NM

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

58.8°F

+7.7°F in Las Cruces, NM

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

—

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

14.1

+4% in Las Cruces, NM

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$11.90

+23% in Bellevue, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Las Cruces, NM

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Las Cruces, NM

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Las Cruces, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Las Cruces, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / NM)

5.5%

4.875%

+0.6 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

5.90%

+1.4 pp in NM

Bellevue vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Las Cruces?: Las Cruces, NM 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 Las Cruces?: 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 Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Las Cruces?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Las Cruces under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).