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

Which city costs less?

Belle Plaine, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% higher than Belmond, IA.

Belmond, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$940 / month
Belle Plaine, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / 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 Belmond, IA and Belle Plaine, 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: $117/month in Belle Plaine, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,400 in Belle Plaine, IA

Regional cost estimates: Belmond, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Belle Plaine, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 1.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$117
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$1.4K
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.

Belmond, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
77.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$140K

Belle Plaine, IA

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

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Belmond, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Belle Plaine, 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: Belmond, IA vs Belle Plaine, 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
↑ 1.9%
Belmond, IA
$2,021
Belle Plaine, IA
$2,058
Difference
$37.45
more
Other
↑ 1.9%
Belmond, IA
$1,736
Belle Plaine, IA
$1,768
Difference
$32.16
more
Transportation
↑ 1.9%
Belmond, IA
$1,343
Belle Plaine, IA
$1,368
Difference
$24.88
more
Groceries
↑ 0.9%
Belmond, IA
$1,059
Belle Plaine, IA
$1,069
Difference
$9.77
more
Healthcare
↑ 0.9%
Belmond, IA
$794
Belle Plaine, IA
$801
Difference
$7.32
more
All Utilities
↑ 0.9%
Belmond, IA
$547
Belle Plaine, IA
$552
Difference
$5.05
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$700
To$640
↓ $60.00
1 Bed
From$720
To$760
↑ $40.00
2 Bed
From$940
To$920
↓ $20.00
3 Bed
From$1,130
To$1,170
↑ $40.00
Belmond, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/mo

Belle Plaine, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/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 Belmond, IA
$7,617
Monthly in Belle Plaine, IA
$117
Difference

Home Values

Belmond
Belle Plaine
$140K
Median Value
$147K
↑ +4.8%
YoY Change
↑ +5.6%
N/A
5-Year Change
↑ +29.8%

Homes in Belle Plaine are 5% more expensive than Belmond

Calculate payment - BelmondCalculate payment - Belle Plaine

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

Belmond, 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

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

Additional Tax Information

Belmond, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Belle Plaine, 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

Belmond
Belle Plaine
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 Belmond, IA to Belle Plaine, 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 Belle Plaine, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Belmond, 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 Belmond to Belle Plaine moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

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

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

Belle Plaine, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% higher than Belmond, IA. 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 Belmond, IA, the model estimates $151,400 in Belle Plaine, 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 Belmond, IA and Belle Plaine, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $940/month in Belmond, IA and $920/month in Belle Plaine, 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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