Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$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 New York City, NY. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 9% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$1,633
+48% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$1,705
+69% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$1,781
+50% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$2,065
+24% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$751,700
+226% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$79,713
+9% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$61,430
+24% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
38.0 yr
+1.9 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
65.5%
32.8%
+32.7 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
41.0%
+7.6 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
20.8 min
40.6 min
+19.8 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
694
+588% in New York City, NY
Property Crime
1,149.4
2,415.4
+110% in New York City, NY

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
55.0°F
+3.9°F in New York City, NY
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
49.9 in
+19.3 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.95/gal
+0% in New York City, NY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
29.9
+120% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$22.74
+46% in New York City, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in New York City, NY
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Bellevue, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in New York City, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in New York City, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New York City, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / NY)
5.5%
4%
+1.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
10.90%
+6.4 pp in NY

Bellevue vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or New York City?
Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below New York City, NY's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in New York City?
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 New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or New York City?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).