Cost of Living in Belle Plaine, MN

With a cost of living index of 100, Belle Plaine, MN is right around the national average in cost. Living here is 0% more expensive than the national average and 18% above the Minnesota state average of 82. Belle Plaine is a smaller community of 7,401 residents, where everyday costs can differ substantially from nearby larger cities.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Belle Plaine's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $1,336 (1% above the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $280,400 (8% below the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 2.9x the median household income — well within traditional affordability guidelines.

The median household income in Belle Plaine is $96,831, which is 29% higher than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 17% of household income on rent. This is a comfortable ratio, well below the 30% threshold that financial experts recommend as a maximum.

Everyday prices in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area) metro area tend to run above the national average. Out of 6 common grocery and utility items tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5 are priced higher than the US average. These real-world prices — from groceries to electricity — add up and should be factored into any cost of living comparison.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.