Belleville, AR vs Salem, AR

Belleville, AR and Salem, AR have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.5% difference in their overall index. Belleville scores 58 while Salem scores 57 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 Belleville is $671/month compared to $619/month in Salem — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Salem has cheaper rent, Belleville actually has lower median home values ($86,400 vs $88,200).

Median household income in Belleville is $65,815 compared to $35,679 in Salem (+84.5%). While Belleville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Belleville spend roughly 12.2% of their income on rent, less than the 20.8% in Salem.