Decorah, IA vs Kalona, IA

Decorah, IA and Kalona, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.3% difference in their overall index. Decorah scores 75 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 Decorah is $788/month compared to $819/month in Kalona — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Decorah has cheaper rent, Kalona actually has lower median home values ($221,300 vs $234,600).

Median household income in Decorah is $62,177 compared to $72,766 in Kalona (-14.6%). While Kalona is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Decorah spend roughly 15.2% of their income on rent, more than the 13.5% in Kalona.