Calmar, IA vs Postville, IA

Calmar, IA and Postville, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.1% difference in their overall index. Calmar scores 69 while Postville scores 66 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 Calmar is $684/month compared to $872/month in Postville — a 22% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Calmar has cheaper rent, Postville actually has lower median home values ($100,300 vs $194,600).

Median household income in Calmar is $81,583 compared to $47,281 in Postville (+72.5%). While Calmar is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Calmar spend roughly 10.1% of their income on rent, less than the 22.1% in Postville.