Kalona, IA vs Washington, IA

Kalona, IA and Washington, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.2% difference in their overall index. Kalona scores 75 while Washington 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 Kalona is $819/month compared to $927/month in Washington — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Kalona has cheaper rent, Washington actually has lower median home values ($144,500 vs $221,300).

Median household income in Kalona is $72,766 compared to $56,536 in Washington (+28.7%). While Kalona is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Kalona spend roughly 13.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.7% in Washington.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51°F vs 51°F). Washington receives more rainfall at 35.7" per year compared to 35.7" in Kalona.