Arlington, IA vs Castana, IA

Arlington, IA and Castana, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.2% difference in their overall index. Arlington scores 57 while Castana scores 59 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 Arlington is $525/month compared to $725/month in Castana — a 28% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Arlington has cheaper rent, Castana actually has lower median home values ($67,500 vs $110,900).

Median household income in Arlington is $41,250 compared to $55,833 in Castana (-26.1%). While Castana is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 15.3% of their income on rent, less than the 15.6% in Castana.