Johnston, IA vs Le Mars, IA

The cost of living difference between Johnston, IA and Le Mars, IA is dramatic. Le Mars is 31.6% cheaper than Johnston, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Johnston has a cost index of 100 while Le Mars sits at 76, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Johnston is $1,288/month compared to $908/month in Le Mars — a 42% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Le Mars is more affordable at $202,200 median vs $346,200.

Median household income in Johnston is $103,430 compared to $72,381 in Le Mars (+42.9%). While Johnston is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Johnston spend roughly 14.9% of their income on rent, less than the 15.1% in Le Mars.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 48.4°F). Johnston receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 29.3" in Le Mars.