Le Mars, IA vs Muscatine, IA

Le Mars, IA and Muscatine, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.2% difference in their overall index. Le Mars scores 76 while Muscatine 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 Le Mars is $908/month compared to $979/month in Muscatine — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Le Mars has cheaper rent, Muscatine actually has lower median home values ($146,900 vs $202,200).

Median household income in Le Mars is $72,381 compared to $59,332 in Muscatine (+22%). While Le Mars is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Le Mars spend roughly 15.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Muscatine.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.4°F vs 51.2°F). Muscatine receives more rainfall at 38.3" per year compared to 29.3" in Le Mars.