Carlisle, IA vs Fort Madison, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fort Madison is 18.6% cheaper than Carlisle. With a cost index of 65 vs 77, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fort Madison to Carlisle should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Carlisle is $896/month compared to $824/month in Fort Madison — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Madison is more affordable at $95,900 median vs $208,100.

Median household income in Carlisle is $98,333 compared to $49,359 in Fort Madison (+99.2%). While Carlisle is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carlisle spend roughly 10.9% of their income on rent, less than the 20% in Fort Madison.