Decorah, IA vs Rock Rapids, IA

Decorah, IA and Rock Rapids, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.1% difference in their overall index. Decorah scores 75 while Rock Rapids scores 72 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 $763/month in Rock Rapids — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rock Rapids is more affordable at $207,700 median vs $234,600.

Median household income in Decorah is $62,177 compared to $61,679 in Rock Rapids (+0.8%). Decorah does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Decorah spend roughly 15.2% of their income on rent, more than the 14.8% in Rock Rapids.