Anita, IA vs Marengo, IA

Anita, IA and Marengo, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.3% difference in their overall index. Anita scores 64 while Marengo scores 63 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Anita is $717/month compared to $722/month in Marengo — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Anita has cheaper rent, Marengo actually has lower median home values ($114,100 vs $114,500).

Median household income in Anita is $65,375 compared to $58,125 in Marengo (+12.5%). While Anita is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Anita spend roughly 13.2% of their income on rent, less than the 14.9% in Marengo.