Council Bluffs, IA vs Marion, IA

Council Bluffs is moderately more affordable than Marion, with a 5.6% lower cost of living index. Council Bluffs scores 76 compared to 80 for Marion, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Marion can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Council Bluffs is $980/month compared to $978/month in Marion — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Marion has cheaper rent, Council Bluffs actually has lower median home values ($164,300 vs $230,800).

Median household income in Council Bluffs is $64,092 compared to $87,105 in Marion (-26.4%). While Marion 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 13.5% in Marion.