Carter Lake, IA vs Le Mars, IA

Carter Lake, IA and Le Mars, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.6% difference in their overall index. Carter Lake scores 79 while Le Mars scores 76 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 Carter Lake is $1,115/month compared to $908/month in Le Mars — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Le Mars has cheaper rent, Carter Lake actually has lower median home values ($161,200 vs $202,200).

Median household income in Carter Lake is $75,037 compared to $72,381 in Le Mars (+3.7%). The higher salaries in Carter Lake partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Carter Lake spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, more than the 15.1% in Le Mars.