Arcadia, IA vs Belle Plaine, IA

Belle Plaine is moderately more affordable than Arcadia, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Arcadia scores 68 compared to 65 for Belle Plaine, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Arcadia can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arcadia is $816/month compared to $796/month in Belle Plaine — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Belle Plaine is more affordable at $111,600 median vs $139,500.

Median household income in Arcadia is $69,408 compared to $70,517 in Belle Plaine (-1.6%). Belle Plaine offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Arcadia spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, more than the 13.5% in Belle Plaine.