De Soto, IA vs Kalona, IA

De Soto, IA and Kalona, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.8% difference in their overall index. De Soto scores 78 while Kalona scores 75 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 De Soto is $933/month compared to $819/month in Kalona — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Kalona has cheaper rent, De Soto actually has lower median home values ($210,500 vs $221,300).

Median household income in De Soto is $92,500 compared to $72,766 in Kalona (+27.1%). While De Soto is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of De Soto spend roughly 12.1% of their income on rent, less than the 13.5% in Kalona.