Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Tucson?

Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $36,000 in Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Tucson?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 38% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$795

+28% in Bellevue, NE

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$891

+12% in Bellevue, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$1,146

+4% in Bellevue, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,520

+8% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$242,200

+5% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$54,546

+38% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$47,760

+4% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

34.6 yr

+1.5 yr in Bellevue, NE

Homeownership

65.5%

51.7%

+13.8 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

30.2%

+3.2 pp in Bellevue, NE

Avg Commute

20.8 min

22.2 min

+1.4 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

645.8

+541% in Tucson, AZ

Property Crime

1,149.4

3,460

+201% in Tucson, AZ

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

70.2°F

+19.1°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

11.6 in

+19.0 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Tucson, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

15.2

+12% in Tucson, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$22.44

+44% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Tucson, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Tucson, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bellevue, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Tucson, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bellevue, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Tucson, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / AZ)

5.5%

5.6%

+0.1 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

2.50%

+2.0 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Tucson?: Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Tucson?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).