Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Bellevue, NE is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 37% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$1,103
+0% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$1,024
+2% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$1,213
+2% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,394
+16% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$224,500
+3% in Bellevue, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$55,269
+37% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$54,310
+9% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.0 yr
+0.9 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
65.5%
46.0%
+19.5 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
33.1%
+0.3 pp in Bellevue, NE
Avg Commute
20.8 min
23.0 min
+2.2 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
1,138.2
+1029% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
1,149.4
3,182.4
+177% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+3.8°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
43.1 in
+12.5 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Bellevue, NE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
19.4
+43% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$22.51
+45% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / DE)
5.5%
None
+5.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
6.60%
+2.0 pp in DE

Bellevue vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Wilmington?
Bellevue, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Wilmington?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).