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

Which city costs less?

Bella Vista, AR has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% lower than Monroe, NC.

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

Current salary in Monroe, NC

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $477/month in Bella Vista, AR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,279 in Bella Vista, AR

Regional cost estimates: Monroe, NC uses Charlotte, NC. Bella Vista, AR uses Tulsa, OK. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 6.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$477

Savings

Annual Impact

$5.7K

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.

Monroe, NC

Population:38K

Cost Index:

90.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$355K

Bella Vista, AR

Population:32K

Cost Index:

85.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$349K

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Monroe, NC

The Tar Heel State

38K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Bella Vista, AR

The Natural State

32K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

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.

Category	Monroe, NC	Bella Vista, AR	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,266/mo	$1,825/mo	↓ $440less	19.4%
Healthcare	$674/mo	$570/mo	↓ $104less	15.5%
Transportation	$1,226/mo	$1,329/mo	↑ $103more	8.4%
Groceries	$1,045/mo	$984/mo	↓ $61.45less	5.9%
Other	$1,741/mo	$1,790/mo	↑ $48.58more	2.8%
All Utilities	$548/mo	$526/mo	↓ $22.33less	4.1%

Housing

↓ 19.4%

Monroe, NC

$2,266

Bella Vista, AR

$1,825

Difference

$440

less

Healthcare

↓ 15.5%

Monroe, NC

$674

Bella Vista, AR

$570

Difference

$104

less

Transportation

↑ 8.4%

Monroe, NC

$1,226

Bella Vista, AR

$1,329

Difference

$103

Groceries

↓ 5.9%

Monroe, NC

$1,045

Bella Vista, AR

$984

Difference

$61.45

less

Other

↑ 2.8%

Monroe, NC

$1,741

Bella Vista, AR

$1,790

Difference

$48.58

All Utilities

↓ 4.1%

Monroe, NC

$548

Bella Vista, AR

$526

Difference

$22.33

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,235

To$1,170

↓ $65.00

1 Bed

From$1,290

To$1,290

→ $0

2 Bed

From$1,415

To$1,560

↑ $145

3 Bed

From$1,745

To$2,170

↑ $425

Monroe, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,170–$1,410/mo

Bella Vista, ARZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/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 Monroe, NC

$7,023

Monthly in Bella Vista, AR

$477

Difference

Home Values

Monroe

Bella Vista

$355K

Median Value

$349K

↑ +0.5%

YoY Change

↑ +2.1%

↑ +42.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +55.8%

$344K - $365K

Price Range

$349K

Homes in Bella Vista are 2% less expensive than Monroe

Calculate payment - Monroe Calculate payment - Bella Vista

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.9K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$158

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.3%

Rate difference

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

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

Additional Tax Information

Monroe, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:0.8%

Bella Vista, AR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.4%

Property Tax:0.6%

💡 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

Monroe

Bella Vista

51 Moderate

Air Quality

51 Moderate

46.2%

Good Air Days

48.4%

97 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

61 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

61 days

Before moving from Monroe, NC to Bella Vista, AR

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Bella Vista, AR for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Monroe, NC. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Monroe to Bella Vista moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Bella Vista, AR by cost, housing, population and region.

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

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

Bella Vista, AR has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% lower than Monroe, NC. 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 Monroe, NC, the model estimates $144,279 in Bella Vista, AR. 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 Monroe, NC and Bella Vista, AR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,415/month in Monroe, NC and $1,560/month in Bella Vista, AR. 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 North Carolina and Arkansas on TaxTakeHome.com