| Index | Bella Vista | Arkansas | National |
| Cost of living | 95 | 86 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 67 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 92 | 93 | 100 |
| Household Items | 93 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 87 | 92 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Bella Vista allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Bella Vista stands at 95, marking it 5% lower than the national average.
The cost of living in Bella Vista closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, houshold expenses, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Bella Vista can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 10 residents in Bella Vista to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 60% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 40% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Bella Vista an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Bella Vista, the median home price is 3.6% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 1.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Bella Vista come in at $107,486, which is 32.2% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Bella Vista, the groceries index is 2.5% lower than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Bella Vista, the housing index comes in at 2% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
The cost of living data for Bella Vista shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $112,883 | $9,407 | $2,634 | $3,387 |
| Renters | $75,639 | $6,303 | $1,765 | $2,269 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Arkansas | 6.5% | 11.625% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Arkansas | 2% | 4.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Springtown, AR | 140 | 94 | 6.0% |
| Ginger Blue, MO | 126 | 73 | 26.5% |
| Lanagan, MO | 474 | 77 | 22.6% |
| Noel, MO | 2,121 | 79 | 21.2% |
| Decatur, AR | 1,584 | 82 | 17.7% |
| Bella Vista, AR | 29,519 | 95 | 4.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Forest Hills, MI | 29,534 | 121 | 20.6% |
| Jacksonville, AR | 29,495 | 89 | 11.0% |
| Lake in the Hills, IL | 29,485 | 111 | 11.2% |
| New Iberia, LA | 29,560 | 89 | 10.9% |
| Mehlville, MO | 29,470 | 94 | 5.7% |
| Bella Vista, AR | 29,519 | 95 | 4.8% |
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