Friend, NE vs Merna, NE

Friend, NE and Merna, NE have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.8% difference in their overall index. Friend scores 71 while Merna 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 Friend is $808/month compared to $1,083/month in Merna — a 25% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Friend has cheaper rent, Merna actually has lower median home values ($107,500 vs $171,200).

Median household income in Friend is $84,861 compared to $73,500 in Merna (+15.5%). Friend offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Friend spend roughly 11.4% of their income on rent, less than the 17.7% in Merna.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.5°F vs 50.2°F). Friend receives more rainfall at 29.5" per year compared to 22.9" in Merna.