Belmond, IA vs Decorah, IA

Belmond is moderately more affordable than Decorah, with a 12.2% lower cost of living index. Belmond scores 66 compared to 75 for Decorah, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Decorah 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 $788/month in Decorah — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Decorah has cheaper rent, Belmond actually has lower median home values ($110,800 vs $234,600).

Median household income in Belmond is $58,750 compared to $62,177 in Decorah (-5.5%). Decorah 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 15.2% in Decorah.