Clear Lake, IA vs Rock Rapids, IA

Clear Lake, IA and Rock Rapids, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.8% difference in their overall index. Clear Lake scores 74 while Rock Rapids scores 72 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 Clear Lake is $755/month compared to $763/month in Rock Rapids — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Rock Rapids actually has lower median home values ($207,700 vs $235,100).

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $61,679 in Rock Rapids (+13.9%). 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 14.8% in Rock Rapids.