Humboldt, IA vs Monona, IA

Humboldt is moderately more affordable than Monona, with a 7.1% lower cost of living index. Humboldt scores 67 compared to 72 for Monona, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Monona can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Humboldt is $731/month compared to $1,000/month in Monona — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Humboldt has cheaper rent, Monona actually has lower median home values ($125,900 vs $162,600).

Median household income in Humboldt is $70,661 compared to $70,509 in Monona (+0.2%). Humboldt offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Humboldt spend roughly 12.4% of their income on rent, less than the 17% in Monona.

Climate-wise, Monona is notably warmer with an average of 48.1°F compared to 44.6°F in Humboldt. Monona receives more rainfall at 33.9" per year compared to 29.3" in Humboldt.