Clear Lake, IA vs Marengo, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Marengo is 17.9% cheaper than Clear Lake. With a cost index of 63 vs 74, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Marengo to Clear Lake should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Clear Lake is $755/month compared to $722/month in Marengo — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Marengo is more affordable at $114,100 median vs $235,100.

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $58,125 in Marengo (+20.9%). While Clear Lake 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, less than the 14.9% in Marengo.