Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $87,767 in Rochester, MN. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$1,080
+2% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$1,106
+10% in Rochester, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$1,243
+4% in Rochester, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,646
+1% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$287,500
+25% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$87,767
+0% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$60,620
+22% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
36.4 yr
+0.3 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
65.5%
65.4%
+0.1 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
50.1%
+16.7 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
20.8 min
17.2 min
+3.6 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
158.9
+58% in Rochester, MN
Property Crime
1,149.4
1,379
+20% in Rochester, MN

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
45.4°F
+5.7°F in Bellevue, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
33.0 in
+2.4 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.95/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
16.9
+25% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$14.95
+4% 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 / MN)
5.5%
6.875%
+1.4 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
9.85%
+5.3 pp in MN

Bellevue vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Rochester?
Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Rochester?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).