Bella Vista, AR vs Monroe, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Monroe, NC has a modeled overall cost index 6.3% higher than Bella Vista, AR.

Bella Vista, AR · modeled 2BR rent
$1,560 / month
Monroe, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,415 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Bella Vista, AR and Monroe, NC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $509/month in Monroe, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,110 in Monroe, NC

Regional cost estimates: Bella Vista, AR uses Tulsa, OK. Monroe, NC uses Charlotte, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$509
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.1K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Bella Vista, AR

Population:32K
Cost Index:
85.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$349K

Monroe, NC

Population:38K
Cost Index:
90.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$355K

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Bella Vista, AR

The Natural State

32K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Arkansas, this city has a population of 32K residents.

Monroe, NC

The Tar Heel State

38K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 38K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bella Vista, AR vs Monroe, NC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 24.1%
Bella Vista, AR
$1,949
Monroe, NC
$2,419
Difference
$470
more
Healthcare
↑ 18.3%
Bella Vista, AR
$608
Monroe, NC
$720
Difference
$112
more
Transportation
↓ 7.8%
Bella Vista, AR
$1,419
Monroe, NC
$1,309
Difference
$110
less
Groceries
↑ 6.2%
Bella Vista, AR
$1,050
Monroe, NC
$1,116
Difference
$65.62
more
Other
↓ 2.7%
Bella Vista, AR
$1,911
Monroe, NC
$1,859
Difference
$51.88
less
All Utilities
↑ 4.2%
Bella Vista, AR
$562
Monroe, NC
$586
Difference
$23.85
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,170
To$1,235
↑ $65.00
1 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,290
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,560
To$1,415
↓ $145
3 Bed
From$2,170
To$1,745
↓ $425
Bella Vista, ARZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/mo

Monroe, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,170–$1,410/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Bella Vista, AR
$8,009
Monthly in Monroe, NC
$509
Difference

Home Values

Bella Vista
Monroe
$349K
Median Value
$355K
↑ +2.1%
YoY Change
↑ +0.5%
↑ +55.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +42.5%
$349K
Price Range
$344K - $365K

Homes in Monroe are 2% more expensive than Bella Vista

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$158
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.3%
Rate difference

Bella Vista, AR

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Arkansas State Tax
Effective: 6.0%
$9.0K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.7%
$46.0K
Take-Home Pay
$8,664/month
$104.0K

Monroe, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Bella Vista, AR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

Monroe, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Bella Vista
Monroe
51 Moderate
Air Quality
51 Moderate
48.4%
Good Air Days
46.2%
98 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days

Before moving from Bella Vista, AR to Monroe, NC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Monroe, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bella Vista, AR. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bella Vista to Monroe moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Monroe, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bella Vista, AR vs Monroe, NC

How do the cost estimates for Bella Vista, AR and Monroe, NC compare?

Monroe, NC has a modeled overall cost index 6.3% higher than Bella Vista, AR. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Bella Vista, AR, the model estimates $156,110 in Monroe, NC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Bella Vista, AR and Monroe, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,560/month in Bella Vista, AR and $1,415/month in Monroe, NC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Arkansas and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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