Eldora, IA vs Merrill, IA

Eldora, IA and Merrill, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.5% difference in their overall index. Eldora scores 62 while Merrill scores 62 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 Eldora is $735/month compared to $581/month in Merrill — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Merrill has cheaper rent, Eldora actually has lower median home values ($108,800 vs $157,200).

Median household income in Eldora is $72,107 compared to $79,250 in Merrill (-9%). While Merrill is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Eldora spend roughly 12.2% of their income on rent, more than the 8.8% in Merrill.