2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Muscatine, IA vs Salem, SC

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Salem or is it cheaper to live in Muscatine?
- Salem is 11.2% more expensive than Muscatine.

Which city has more affordable housing, Salem or Muscatine?
- Salem housing costs are 171.2% more expensive than Muscatine housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Muscatine or is Health Care more affordable in Salem.
- Health related expenses are 3.9% more in Salem.
 Muscatine, IASalem, SCUnited States
 Overall  Unlock85.6100
 Food & Groceries95.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock108.9100
 Housing45.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$483,800$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock73.3100
 Miscellaneous91.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Muscatine    3 Reviews

Over 11 years ago

We recently relocated here in October for my husbands work. This is a beautiful city located on the mississippi river. It boasts of state of the art playground equipment  More

   |    Reply

Over 15 years ago

This is the worst place that I have ever lived. There is nothing to do here except drugs. The schools are also terrible. I ended up sending my son to a private boarding  More

   |    Reply

Over 19 years ago

We live just outside of Muscatine,On a bluff looking over the Mississippi river. We have a great view of the river( never floods) and a house in our subdivision just  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Muscatine

Reviews for Salem    2 Reviews

Absolutely one of the most beautiful places to live m. Come check it  More

   |    Reply

Over 7 years ago

I lived in the general Salem area for a year and a half. Being a "Yankee" I was treated with either indifference or outright hostility. Things I liked were little  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Salem


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.