Burlington, IA vs Storm Lake, IA

Burlington, IA and Storm Lake, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.2% difference in their overall index. Burlington scores 70 while Storm Lake scores 70 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 Burlington is $931/month compared to $830/month in Storm Lake — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Storm Lake has cheaper rent, Burlington actually has lower median home values ($115,800 vs $163,600).

Median household income in Burlington is $55,274 compared to $58,341 in Storm Lake (-5.3%). While Storm Lake 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 17.1% in Storm Lake.