Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Portland?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Portland?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 2% higher in Portland, OR. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$1,294

+17% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$1,440

+43% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$1,741

+46% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$2,053

+24% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$557,600

+142% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$88,792

+2% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$60,690

+22% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

38.6 yr

+2.5 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

65.5%

52.8%

+12.7 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

53.5%

+20.1 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

20.8 min

24.6 min

+3.8 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

732.3

+626% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

1,149.4

5,609.4

+388% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+3.4°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

42.9 in

+12.2 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Portland, OR

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

16.3

+20% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$20.59

+33% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / OR)

5.5%

None

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

9.90%

+5.4 pp in OR

Bellevue vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Portland?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Portland?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).