Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 8% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$1,468
+33% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$1,688
+67% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$2,148
+81% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$2,489
+50% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$879,500
+281% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$80,366
+8% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$55,850
+12% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
36.9 yr
+0.8 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
65.5%
36.3%
+29.2 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
37.8%
+4.4 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
20.8 min
31.1 min
+10.3 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
730.3
+625% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,149.4
1,501.4
+31% in Los Angeles, CA

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
67.0°F
+15.9°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
21.2 in
+9.4 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.40/gal
+37% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs LA Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
33.3
+145% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$20.72
+33% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Bellevue, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Bellevue, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / CA)
5.5%
7.25%
+1.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
13.30%
+8.8 pp in CA

Bellevue vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Los Angeles?
Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Los Angeles?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).