Belmond, IA vs Charles City, IA

Charles City is moderately more affordable than Belmond, with a 8.5% lower cost of living index. Belmond scores 66 compared to 61 for Charles City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Belmond can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Belmond is $820/month compared to $628/month in Charles City — a 31% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Charles City has cheaper rent, Belmond actually has lower median home values ($110,800 vs $118,900).

Median household income in Belmond is $58,750 compared to $56,734 in Charles City (+3.6%). Belmond does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Belmond spend roughly 16.7% of their income on rent, more than the 13.3% in Charles City.