Clear Lake, IA vs Tama, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Tama is 18% 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 Tama 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 $744/month in Tama — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Tama is more affordable at $101,200 median vs $235,100.

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $61,944 in Tama (+13.5%). The higher salaries in Clear Lake partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Clear Lake spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, less than the 14.4% in Tama.