Belle Plaine, MN vs Hastings, MN

Belle Plaine, MN and Hastings, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.6% difference in their overall index. Belle Plaine scores 100 while Hastings scores 97 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Belle Plaine is $1,336/month compared to $1,184/month in Hastings — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hastings has cheaper rent, Belle Plaine actually has lower median home values ($280,400 vs $294,100).

Median household income in Belle Plaine is $96,831 compared to $92,940 in Hastings (+4.2%). While Belle Plaine is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Belle Plaine spend roughly 16.6% of their income on rent, more than the 15.3% in Hastings.