Burlington, IA vs Council Bluffs, IA

Burlington is moderately more affordable than Council Bluffs, with a 8% lower cost of living index. Burlington scores 70 compared to 76 for Council Bluffs, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Council Bluffs can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Burlington is $931/month compared to $980/month in Council Bluffs — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Burlington is more affordable at $115,800 median vs $164,300.

Median household income in Burlington is $55,274 compared to $64,092 in Council Bluffs (-13.8%). While Council Bluffs is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlington spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 18.3% in Council Bluffs.