Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/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 $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 16% higher in Bellevue, NE. 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
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$995
+10% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$1,126
+12% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$1,384
+16% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,662
+0% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$280,300
+21% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$73,055
+16% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$59,320
+19% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
33.5 yr
+2.6 yr in Bellevue, NE
Homeownership
65.5%
53.2%
+12.3 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
43.5%
+10.1 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
20.8 min
22.3 min
+1.5 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
619
+514% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
1,149.4
2,897.2
+152% in St. Paul, 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
47.1°F
+4.0°F in Bellevue, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
28.5 in
+2.1 in in Bellevue, NE

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 St. Paul, 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 St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or St. Paul?
Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or St. Paul?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); St. Paul 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).