Eddyville, IA vs Salem, IA

Salem is moderately more affordable than Eddyville, with a 5.9% lower cost of living index. Eddyville scores 68 compared to 64 for Salem, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Eddyville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Eddyville is $887/month compared to $850/month in Salem — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Salem is more affordable at $75,000 median vs $107,300.

Median household income in Eddyville is $61,205 compared to $59,583 in Salem (+2.7%). Eddyville 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 Eddyville spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, more than the 17.1% in Salem.