Council Bluffs, IA vs Dubuque, IA

Council Bluffs, IA and Dubuque, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.1% difference in their overall index. Council Bluffs scores 76 while Dubuque 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 Council Bluffs is $980/month compared to $943/month in Dubuque — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Dubuque has cheaper rent, Council Bluffs actually has lower median home values ($164,300 vs $193,100).

Median household income in Council Bluffs is $64,092 compared to $64,985 in Dubuque (-1.4%). While Dubuque is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Council Bluffs spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, more than the 17.4% in Dubuque.