Bellevue, IA vs Shelby, IA

Bellevue, IA and Shelby, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.6% difference in their overall index. Bellevue scores 73 while Shelby scores 72 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 Bellevue is $826/month compared to $872/month in Shelby — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellevue has cheaper rent, Shelby actually has lower median home values ($156,300 vs $210,500).

Median household income in Bellevue is $78,792 compared to $60,333 in Shelby (+30.6%). While Bellevue is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bellevue spend roughly 12.6% of their income on rent, less than the 17.3% in Shelby.