Pleasant Hill, IA vs Shenandoah, IA

The cost of living difference between Pleasant Hill, IA and Shenandoah, IA is dramatic. Shenandoah is 44.3% cheaper than Pleasant Hill, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Pleasant Hill has a cost index of 92 while Shenandoah sits at 64, 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 Pleasant Hill is $1,204/month compared to $762/month in Shenandoah — a 58% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shenandoah is more affordable at $110,000 median vs $284,100.

Median household income in Pleasant Hill is $86,890 compared to $52,469 in Shenandoah (+65.6%). While Pleasant Hill is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Pleasant Hill spend roughly 16.6% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Shenandoah.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 52.4°F). Pleasant Hill receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 31.9" in Shenandoah.