Garner, IA vs St. Ansgar, IA

Garner, IA and St. Ansgar, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.2% difference in their overall index. Garner scores 69 while St. Ansgar scores 72 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 Garner is $791/month compared to $940/month in St. Ansgar — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Garner has cheaper rent, St. Ansgar actually has lower median home values ($143,800 vs $162,100).

Median household income in Garner is $68,964 compared to $75,208 in St. Ansgar (-8.3%). While St. Ansgar is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Garner spend roughly 13.8% of their income on rent, less than the 15% in St. Ansgar.