Rent vs buy in Bellevue, NE
In Bellevue, Nebraska, the typical rent is $1,401 /mo and a typical home is $299,002.
Renting comes out ahead by $53k over 7 years
Today's mortgage rate applies, along with 20% down and Bellevue's typical rent and home value. No break-even occurs during 30 years.
Clearly labeled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes with it.
- Renting leads by
- $53k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- 30 years or more owning never catches up sooner
- Actual cost of ownership
- Per month: $2,877 year 1, against $1,401 rent
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The stamp relies on Bellevue's typical rent and home value. Changing your rent, price or number of years can flip the result.
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Which costs less in Bellevue, renting or buying?
Across 7 years, renting costs $52,601 less, including the money returned to you when you sell. In every year shown, renting's net cost sits below owning's, and ownership never catches up within 30 years.
Rent option Buy option Net cost by year so far
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Bellevue
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story. At Bellevue's typical price, here are all monthly costs for year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,401 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,630 | $1,437 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $429 | 1.72% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $152 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $249 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,460 | $193 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $486 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn |
| Buying costs, spread out | $125 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,877 | Cash paid out, minus equity, plus the two amounts above |
The figures behind Bellevue's result
- Typical home value Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $299,002
- Typical rent Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- Per month: $1,401
- Down payment: 20% avoids private mortgage insurance, and the engine leaves it out of the model.
- 20%
- Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growth: FHFA house price index, Nebraska, 1995 to 2025
- Each year: 4.1%
- Rent growthCPI primary residence rent, annual growth 2006 to 2026
- Each year: 3.5%
- Savings return: 60% S&P 500 with dividends, plus 40% 10-year Treasuries, with the mix rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- A yearly return of 8.3%
- Property tax: Census ACS 2020-2024, Bellevue
- 1.72% of the value
- Home insurance: Census ACS 2020-2024, Bellevue
- Monthly cost of $152
- Maintenance: Fannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- Each year, 1% of value
- Buying costs: Freddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% applies to the price.
- Selling costsAgent commission and closing costs
- 6% applies to the price.
In Bellevue, what would make it flip?
Each line marks where Bellevue's 7-year verdict changes, while everything else remains as it is.
Renting is the better choice when
- Home prices grow by less than 6.2% a year, using Nebraska's long-run rate of 4.1%.
- The mortgage rate remains over 4.08%.
- A home like this has a monthly rent below $1,960 (typical here: $1,401).
- Should you move at any time during the coming 30 years, ownership never catches up under these numbers.
Buying is the better choice when
- Home prices rise by more than 6.2% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 4.08% (today's is 7.24%).
- You'd pay over $1,960 each month to rent that same home.
How Bellevue compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Bellevue | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $299,002 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,401 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 17.8 (#443 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.4% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.9% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.72% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 35% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow's ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Nebraska
- Rent. Omaha, NE. Renting saves $50k.
- Rent. Lincoln, NE. Renting saves $53k.
- Rent option. Grand Island, NE. The advantage for renting is $24k.