Aplington, IA vs Madrid, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Aplington is 22% cheaper than Madrid. With a cost index of 61 vs 79, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Aplington to Madrid should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Aplington is $650/month compared to $1,034/month in Madrid — a 37% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Aplington is more affordable at $131,800 median vs $185,100.

Median household income in Aplington is $70,093 compared to $86,915 in Madrid (-19.4%). The higher salaries in Madrid partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Aplington spend roughly 11.1% of their income on rent, less than the 14.3% in Madrid.