Atlantic, IA vs Storm Lake, IA

Atlantic is moderately more affordable than Storm Lake, with a 6.8% lower cost of living index. Atlantic scores 66 compared to 70 for Storm Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Storm Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Atlantic is $750/month compared to $830/month in Storm Lake — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Atlantic is more affordable at $134,900 median vs $163,600.

Median household income in Atlantic is $57,486 compared to $58,341 in Storm Lake (-1.5%). Storm Lake does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Atlantic spend roughly 15.7% of their income on rent, less than the 17.1% in Storm Lake.