Alta Vista, IA vs Collins, IA

Alta Vista is moderately more affordable than Collins, with a 10.1% lower cost of living index. Alta Vista scores 62 compared to 70 for Collins, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Collins can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alta Vista is $825/month compared to $883/month in Collins — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Alta Vista is more affordable at $68,600 median vs $130,700.

Median household income in Alta Vista is $53,750 compared to $67,292 in Collins (-20.1%). While Collins is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alta Vista spend roughly 18.4% of their income on rent, more than the 15.7% in Collins.