Bellaire, MI vs Montgomery, MI

Bellaire is moderately more affordable than Montgomery, with a 5.8% lower cost of living index. Bellaire scores 72 compared to 76 for Montgomery, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Montgomery can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bellaire is $786/month compared to $1,175/month in Montgomery — a 33% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellaire has cheaper rent, Montgomery actually has lower median home values ($93,100 vs $182,800).

Median household income in Bellaire is $53,750 compared to $54,000 in Montgomery (-0.5%). Montgomery does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Bellaire spend roughly 17.5% of their income on rent, less than the 26.1% in Montgomery.