A-
3%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
4%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Bella Vista Arkansas National
Cost of living9786100
Goods & Services10298100
Groceries9295100
Health care10188100
Housing9665100
Transportation9690100
Utilities9492100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bella Vista, AR

The cost of living in Bella Vista affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Bella Vista is 97, which is 3% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Bella Vista closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, 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.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Bella Vista?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 8 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Bella Vista and this is how they responded. 50% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 50% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Bella Vista Affordable?

Is Bella Vista an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Bella Vista is 6.2% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 1.1% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Bella Vista has a median household income of $71,258, which is 28.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bella Vista?

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Bella Vista starts at 6.5% and the income tax rates start at 2%.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Bella Vista, the groceries index is 8% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Bella Vista, the transportation index stands at 4.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Bella Vista cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Bella Vista is 13% higher than the Arkansas average
  • The cost of living in Bella Vista is 3% lower than the national average
  • Bella Vista housing is 4% lower than the national average
  • Arkansas general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Arkansas state income tax is 11% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bella Vista

See all the best places to live around Bella Vista

Compare Bella Vista, AR Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$75,566$6,297$1,763$2,267
      Renters$50,457$4,205$1,177$1,514
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Bella Vista, AR, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Bella Vista have a median income of $75,566. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,763 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $50,457, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,177.

      Arkansas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arkansas 6.5% 11.625%

      Arkansas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arkansas 2% 5.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bella Vista National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.65$24.2610.8%
      Beauty Salon $45.00$45.561.2%
      Toothpaste $3.68$3.700.5%
      Shampoo $1.08$1.2815.5%
      Movie $11.50$12.135.2%
      Bowling $14.71$18.0018.3%

      Groceries

      Item Bella Vista National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.81$5.840.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.8%
      Milk $4.52$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $5.22$4.935.9%
      Pizza $10.10$12.0916.4%
      Beer $10.21$10.412.0%

      Health Care

      Item Bella Vista National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $99.78$125.6820.6%
      Doctor $108.55$135.7820.1%
      Dentist $83.89$113.2926.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.16$10.654.6%
      Lipitor $454.89$468.602.9%

      Housing

      Item Bella Vista National avg. Difference
      Home Price $173,300.00$184,700.006.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,863.97$2,346.6920.6%
      Apartment Rent $959.00$949.001.1%

      Transportation

      Item Bella Vista National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.01$3.4613.0%
      Tire Balancing $52.21$59.9212.9%

      Utilities

      Item Bella Vista National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $150.82$193.9922.3%
      Phone $203.29$192.255.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Springtown, AR136982.1%
      Ginger Blue, MO1227326.9%
      Lanagan, MO4587722.9%
      Noel, MO2,0518218.4%
      Decatur, AR1,5368514.7%
      Bella Vista, AR28,819972.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Paragould, AR28,8218713.0%
      Mehlville, MO28,824937.4%
      Courtenay, BC28,804n/a 
      Wellesley, MA28,747242141.9%
      Ridgecrest, CA28,90511010.3%
      Bella Vista, AR28,819972.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.