| Index | Laurel | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 81 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 47 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 91 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 94 | 100 |

| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $74,010 | $6,168 | $1,727 | $2,221 |
| Renters | $120,013 | $10,001 | $2,800 | $3,601 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 4.4% | 6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Ferguson, IA | 128 | 78 | 21.6% |
| Gilman, IA | 555 | 81 | 19.4% |
| Garwin, IA | 662 | 81 | 18.7% |
| Kellogg, IA | 666 | 82 | 18.0% |
| Rhodes, IA | 329 | 81 | 18.5% |
| Laurel, IA | 200 | 81 | 18.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Russian Mission, AK | 200 | 98 | 2.2% |
| Abanda, AL | 200 | 78 | 21.5% |
| Menifee, AR | 200 | 84 | 16.2% |
| Rackerby, CA | 200 | 122 | 22.0% |
| Trowbridge, CA | 200 | 145 | 44.7% |
| Laurel, IA | 200 | 81 | 18.9% |