Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Tampa?

Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $53,000 in Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Tampa?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 18% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$1,242

+12% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$1,324

+31% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$1,673

+41% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,729

+4% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$375,300

+63% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$71,302

+18% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$48,940

+1% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

35.6 yr

+0.5 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

50.2%

+15.3 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

44.6%

+11.2 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

20.8 min

24.7 min

+3.9 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

443.2

+340% in Tampa, FL

Property Crime

1,149.4

1,473.2

+28% in Tampa, FL

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

73.4°F

+22.3°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

46.3 in

+15.7 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.77/gal

+4% in Bellevue, NE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

15.2

+12% in Tampa, FL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$23.62

+52% in Tampa, FL

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 Tampa, FL

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / FL)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

None

+4.5 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Tampa?: Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Tampa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Tampa?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).