Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 12% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$1,018
+8% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$1,219
+21% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$1,432
+20% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,766
+6% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$346,900
+50% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$76,983
+12% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$58,080
+17% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
31.8 yr
+4.3 yr in Bellevue, NE
Homeownership
65.5%
46.6%
+18.9 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
59.2%
+25.8 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
20.8 min
19.4 min
+1.4 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
259.5
+157% in Madison, WI
Property Crime
1,149.4
1,884.5
+64% in Madison, WI

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
46.5°F
+4.6°F in Bellevue, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
34.5 in
+3.9 in in Madison, WI

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
19.7
+45% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$11.79
+24% in Bellevue, NE

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 / WI)
5.5%
5%
+0.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
7.65%
+3.1 pp in WI

Bellevue vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Madison?
Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Madison?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).