| Index | Palmer | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 79 | 90 | 100 |
| Goods & Services | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 110 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 30 | 73 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 96 | 100 |
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| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $52,000 | $4,333 | $1,213 | $1,560 |
| Renters | $15,714 | $1,310 | $367 | $471 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 4.4% | 6% |
| Item | Palmer | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $24.39 | $24.26 | 0.5% |
| Beauty Salon | $40.50 | $45.56 | 11.1% |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.70 | 2.8% |
| Shampoo | $1.42 | $1.28 | 10.9% |
| Movie | $8.29 | $12.13 | 31.7% |
| Bowling | $20.00 | $18.00 | 11.1% |
| Item | Palmer | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $6.53 | $5.84 | 11.8% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.36 | $1.57 | 13.3% |
| Milk | $4.72 | $4.67 | 1.1% |
| Potatoes | $5.02 | $4.93 | 1.8% |
| Pizza | $12.12 | $12.09 | 0.3% |
| Beer | $9.65 | $10.41 | 7.3% |
| Item | Palmer | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $159.11 | $125.68 | 26.6% |
| Doctor | $176.92 | $135.78 | 30.3% |
| Dentist | $107.00 | $113.29 | 5.5% |
| Ibuprofen | $10.54 | $10.65 | 1.1% |
| Lipitor | $512.13 | $468.60 | 9.3% |
| Item | Palmer | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $27,700.00 | $184,700.00 | 85.0% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $2,009.00 | $2,346.69 | 14.4% |
| Apartment Rent | $625.00 | $949.00 | 34.1% |
| Item | Palmer | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 | 2.3% |
| Tire Balancing | $57.22 | $59.92 | 4.5% |
| Item | Palmer | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $182.60 | $193.99 | 5.9% |
| Phone | $187.02 | $192.25 | 2.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Jolley, IA | 27 | 99 | 0.7% |
| Pioneer, IA | 22 | 99 | 0.7% |
| Knierim, IA | 57 | 75 | 24.9% |
| Bradgate, IA | 133 | 75 | 24.8% |
| Havelock, IA | 132 | 77 | 23.4% |
| Palmer, IA | 150 | 79 | 21.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Deering, AK | 150 | 112 | 11.9% |
| Nightmute, AK | 150 | 95 | 5.4% |
| Port Graham, AK | 150 | 103 | 3.1% |
| Garden City, IA | 150 | 77 | 22.6% |
| Welton, IA | 150 | 85 | 14.8% |
| Palmer, IA | 150 | 79 | 21.4% |
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