Buffalo, IA vs Marengo, IA

Marengo is moderately more affordable than Buffalo, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Buffalo scores 66 compared to 63 for Marengo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Buffalo can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Buffalo is $821/month compared to $722/month in Marengo — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Marengo is more affordable at $114,100 median vs $120,400.

Median household income in Buffalo is $74,773 compared to $58,125 in Marengo (+28.6%). While Buffalo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Buffalo spend roughly 13.2% of their income on rent, less than the 14.9% in Marengo.