Burlington, IA vs Urbandale, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Burlington is 26.2% cheaper than Urbandale. With a cost index of 70 vs 94, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Burlington to Urbandale should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Burlington is $931/month compared to $1,176/month in Urbandale — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Burlington is more affordable at $115,800 median vs $318,800.

Median household income in Burlington is $55,274 compared to $113,086 in Urbandale (-51.1%). While Urbandale 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 12.5% in Urbandale.