Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 20% higher in Bellevue, NE. Both cities are in Nebraska, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$851
+23% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$879
+13% in Bellevue, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$1,070
+10% in Bellevue, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,379
+17% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$248,200
+8% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$69,991
+20% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$49,800
+0% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
33.4 yr
+2.7 yr in Bellevue, NE
Homeownership
65.5%
55.8%
+9.7 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
41.0%
+7.6 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
20.8 min
18.3 min
+2.5 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
363.1
+260% in Lincoln, NE
Property Crime
1,149.4
2,484.4
+116% in Lincoln, NE

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
51.5°F
+0.4°F in Lincoln, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
30.9 in
+0.2 in in Lincoln, NE

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
13.6
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$15.53
about equal

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 / NE)
5.5%
5.5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
4.55%
about equal

Bellevue vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Lincoln?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Lincoln?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Lincoln?
Neither — both are in Nebraska, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).