Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Nashville?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $53,000 in Nashville.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Nashville?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Nashville under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Nashville Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Nashville

Tennessee

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 14% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Nashville, TN

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$1,341

+21% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$1,336

+33% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$1,478

+24% in Nashville, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,832

+10% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$383,100

+66% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$75,197

+14% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$50,390

+1% in Nashville, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

34.4 yr

+1.7 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

53.0%

+12.5 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

46.9%

+13.5 pp in Nashville, TN

Avg Commute

20.8 min

24.9 min

+4.1 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

1,178.7

+1069% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

1,149.4

4,558.5

+297% in Nashville, TN

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

59.4°F

+8.3°F in Nashville, TN

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

47.3 in

+16.6 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WeGo Public Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

14.5

+6% in Nashville, TN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$16.83

+8% in Nashville, TN

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 Nashville, TN

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 / TN)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

None

+4.5 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Nashville?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Nashville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Nashville?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Nashville under Tennessee's (no state income tax 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).