Fairfield, IA vs Muscatine, IA

Fairfield, IA and Muscatine, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.1% difference in their overall index. Fairfield scores 71 while Muscatine scores 74 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 Fairfield is $864/month compared to $979/month in Muscatine — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fairfield has cheaper rent, Muscatine actually has lower median home values ($146,900 vs $152,900).

Median household income in Fairfield is $48,302 compared to $59,332 in Muscatine (-18.6%). While Muscatine is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairfield spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, more than the 19.8% in Muscatine.