Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Bellevue, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Bellevue, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $2,390 in Bellevue, NE, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $3,534 in Bellevue, NE, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $4,678 in Bellevue, NE, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 85% more than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Bellevue, NE sit above the global median – New York, NY by 230%, Bellevue, NE by 79%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$20.20 $20.20

45.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$73.7 $73.7

93.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$11.83 $11.83

4.90%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.04 $5.04

20.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.56 $2.56

30.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.92 $1.92

40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$5.06 $5.06

61.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$7.11 $7.11

69.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$0.95 $0.95

70.53%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.08 $3.08

64.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.62 $4.62

75.76%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$3.59 $3.59

91.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$11.52 $11.52

52.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$10.66 $10.66

53.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$15.56 $15.56

27.31%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$4.60 $4.60

66.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.51 $1.51

67.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$6.10 $6.10

-8.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.86 $4.86

31.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.90 $1.90

102.11%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.70 $2.70

51.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.31 $2.31

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.48 $2.48

0.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$7.81 $7.81

141.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$15.23 $15.23

29.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.99 $1.99

50.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.18 $5.18

-27.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.47 $2.47

19.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$80.1 $80.1

65.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.07 $3.07

64.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.40 $1.40

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$20.94 $20.94

104.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.81 $0.81

19.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K $35.0K

$34.4K $34.4K

1.87%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

7.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$182 $182

$219 $219

-16.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.3 $60.3

$61.9 $61.9

-2.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$67.0 $67.0

-5.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$35.15 $35.15

305.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

$40.68 $40.68

56.42%

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$14.92 $14.92

33.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,129 $3,129

$923 $923

239.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

135.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$56.5 $56.5

19.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$41.84 $41.84

12.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$99.3 $99.3

13.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$121 $121

43.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$1,185 $1,185

249.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$985 $985

173.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$1,811 $1,811

355.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$1,698 $1,698

212.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$2,739 $2,739

576.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$2,397 $2,397

171.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,414 $4,414

25.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.5

-0.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bellevue, NE: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $1,185 in Bellevue, NE. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY versus $74.0 in Bellevue, NE. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $389 – making Bellevue, NE the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

New York, NY vs Bellevue, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,415 in New York, NY, $2,390 in Bellevue, NE – roughly 85% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $3,585 in Bellevue, NE. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bellevue, NE, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY and $74.0 in Bellevue, NE. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,415 in New York, NY and $2,390 in Bellevue, NE. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Bellevue, NE, where all-in costs run around $2,390, than in New York, NY at $4,415. In Bellevue, NE it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,390 in Bellevue, NE to $4,415 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bellevue, NE. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.