Belle, MO vs Lamar, MO

Belle is moderately more affordable than Lamar, with a 13.4% lower cost of living index. Belle scores 58 compared to 67 for Lamar, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lamar can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Belle is $511/month compared to $830/month in Lamar — a 38% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Belle has cheaper rent, Lamar actually has lower median home values ($114,800 vs $141,100).

Median household income in Belle is $55,341 compared to $34,894 in Lamar (+58.6%). Belle offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Belle spend roughly 11.1% of their income on rent, less than the 28.5% in Lamar.