Belle Plaine, IA vs St. Charles, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Belle Plaine is 16% cheaper than St. Charles. With a cost index of 65 vs 77, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Belle Plaine to St. Charles should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Belle Plaine is $796/month compared to $939/month in St. Charles — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Belle Plaine is more affordable at $111,600 median vs $197,100.

Median household income in Belle Plaine is $70,517 compared to $81,944 in St. Charles (-13.9%). The higher salaries in St. Charles partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Belle Plaine spend roughly 13.5% of their income on rent, less than the 13.8% in St. Charles.