Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 37% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$953
+14% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$1,019
+1% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$1,287
+8% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,392
+16% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$296,400
+28% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$55,339
+37% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$47,290
+5% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
38.4 yr
+2.3 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
65.5%
50.5%
+15.0 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
42.0%
+8.6 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
20.8 min
22.7 min
+1.9 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
1,361.1
+1250% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
1,149.4
5,089.6
+343% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+19.5°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
62.3 in
+31.7 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Bellevue, NE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
14.2
+4% in New Orleans, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$16.62
+7% in New Orleans, LA

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 New Orleans, LA
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / LA)
5.5%
5%
+0.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
3.00%
+1.5 pp in NE

Bellevue vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or New Orleans?
Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or New Orleans?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% 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).