East Peru, IA vs Salem, IA

Salem is moderately more affordable than East Peru, with a 5.8% lower cost of living index. East Peru scores 67 compared to 64 for Salem, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of East Peru can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in East Peru is $917/month compared to $850/month in Salem — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Salem is more affordable at $75,000 median vs $87,500.

Median household income in East Peru is $67,083 compared to $59,583 in Salem (+12.6%). While East Peru is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of East Peru spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 17.1% in Salem.