Belle Plaine, MN vs West St. Paul, MN

Belle Plaine, MN and West St. Paul, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.3% difference in their overall index. Belle Plaine scores 100 while West St. Paul scores 96 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 $1,195/month in West St. Paul — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while West St. Paul has cheaper rent, Belle Plaine actually has lower median home values ($280,400 vs $281,800).

Median household income in Belle Plaine is $96,831 compared to $70,738 in West St. Paul (+36.9%). 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, less than the 20.3% in West St. Paul.