Cairo, NE vs Merna, NE

Cairo, NE and Merna, NE have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.8% difference in their overall index. Cairo scores 70 while Merna scores 74 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 Cairo is $805/month compared to $1,083/month in Merna — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cairo has cheaper rent, Merna actually has lower median home values ($107,500 vs $184,000).

Median household income in Cairo is $55,179 compared to $73,500 in Merna (-24.9%). While Merna is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cairo spend roughly 17.5% of their income on rent, less than the 17.7% in Merna.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.8°F vs 50.2°F). Cairo receives more rainfall at 26.6" per year compared to 22.9" in Merna.