Salem, IA vs Soldier, IA

Soldier is moderately more affordable than Salem, with a 13.8% lower cost of living index. Salem scores 64 compared to 56 for Soldier, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Salem can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Salem is $850/month compared to $595/month in Soldier — a 43% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Soldier is more affordable at $75,000 median vs $75,000.

Median household income in Salem is $59,583 compared to $49,375 in Soldier (+20.7%). While Salem is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Salem spend roughly 17.1% of their income on rent, more than the 14.5% in Soldier.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 50.1°F). Salem receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 28.3" in Soldier.