Clear Lake, IA vs Fairfax, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Clear Lake is 18.1% cheaper than Fairfax. With a cost index of 74 vs 90, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Clear Lake to Fairfax should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Clear Lake is $755/month compared to $1,188/month in Fairfax — a 36% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Clear Lake is more affordable at $235,100 median vs $278,800.

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $120,552 in Fairfax (-41.7%). While Fairfax is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clear Lake spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, more than the 11.8% in Fairfax.