Belle Plaine, IA vs Lamoni, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Belle Plaine, IA and Lamoni, IA have about the same overall cost index in our saved model.

Belle Plaine, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Lamoni, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / 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 Belle Plaine, IA and Lamoni, IA 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

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2.52/month in Lamoni, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,030 in Lamoni, IA

Regional cost estimates: Belle Plaine, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Lamoni, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 0.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2.52
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$30.24
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.

Belle Plaine, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
78.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$147K

Lamoni, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
78.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$147K

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Belle Plaine, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Lamoni, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Belle Plaine, IA vs Lamoni, IA

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
↑ 0.0%
Belle Plaine, IA
$2,027
Lamoni, IA
$2,028
Difference
$0.81
more
Other
↑ 0.0%
Belle Plaine, IA
$1,741
Lamoni, IA
$1,742
Difference
$0.70
more
Transportation
↑ 0.0%
Belle Plaine, IA
$1,347
Lamoni, IA
$1,347
Difference
$0.54
more
Groceries
↑ 0.0%
Belle Plaine, IA
$1,053
Lamoni, IA
$1,053
Difference
$0.21
more
Healthcare
↑ 0.0%
Belle Plaine, IA
$789
Lamoni, IA
$789
Difference
$0.16
more
All Utilities
↑ 0.0%
Belle Plaine, IA
$544
Lamoni, IA
$544
Difference
$0.11
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$640
To$690
↑ $50.00
1 Bed
From$760
To$770
↑ $10.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$1,000
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,170
To$1,210
↑ $40.00
Belle Plaine, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/mo

Lamoni, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/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 Belle Plaine, IA
$7,503
Monthly in Lamoni, IA
$2.52
Difference

Home Values

Belle Plaine
Lamoni
$147K
Median Value
$147K
↑ +5.6%
YoY Change
↑ +5%
↑ +29.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +7.9%
Calculate payment - Belle PlaineCalculate payment - Lamoni

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Belle Plaine, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Lamoni, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Belle Plaine, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Lamoni, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Belle Plaine
Lamoni
45 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
67.5%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Belle Plaine, IA to Lamoni, IA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Lamoni, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Belle Plaine, IA. 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 Belle Plaine to Lamoni moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Belle Plaine, IA vs Lamoni, IA

How do the cost estimates for Belle Plaine, IA and Lamoni, IA compare?

Belle Plaine, IA and Lamoni, IA have about the same overall cost index in our saved model. 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 Belle Plaine, IA, the model estimates $150,030 in Lamoni, IA. 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 Belle Plaine, IA and Lamoni, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Belle Plaine, IA and $1,000/month in Lamoni, IA. 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.

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