Moving from West Virginia to Iowa
Moving to Iowa on the same salary slightly raises your real buying power (+2.4%); about $58,500 there would match what you have now. Change the salary below to see your own numbers.
The salary comparison above is for W-2 earnings. Your retirement income and budget results appear in the calculator below.
State-median gross rent (2024 ACS): $883/month in West Virginia and $981/month in Iowa. These are state benchmarks, not current rental quotes or your own housing costs. Compare your salary offer, housing and moving-cost recovery using the personal-budget option in the calculator.
Equal salary in IA: $58,500
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $58,500 in Iowa to match $60,000 in West Virginia ($1,500 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary, standard deduction.
The renter figure uses ACS gross rent, which includes tenant-paid electricity, gas, water/sewer and fuels. The buyer figure adds electricity separately to mortgage, property tax and insurance. Food, transport, healthcare, other spending and one-time moving costs are excluded. These are selected-cost changes, not total savings. State medians may differ from your neighborhood and current quotes.
| Tax on $60,000 | West Virginia | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $5,020 | $5,020 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $4,590 | $4,590 |
| State income tax | $1,866 | $1,628 |
| State payroll programs (UI, disability, paid leave, transit) | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $48,524 | $48,762 |
Key facts: West Virginia to Iowa
- Median rent
- $883 → $981/mo
- Median home value
- $170,800 → $227,300
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 89.5 → 87.8
- Road distance
- ≈ 800 miles
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- High county-score mean (64.4 → 62.8 of 100)
What changes when you move to Iowa
- State taxes are similar: the difference is under $250 a year at $60,000.
- BEA's housing rents price index is 20% higher in Iowa. Median rent goes from $883 to $981 a month and the median home value from $170,800 to $227,300.
- Homeowners pay more property tax: the median bill is $2,937 in Iowa vs $881 in West Virginia.
- The average home electric bill is $117 a month in Iowa vs $165 in West Virginia (EIA 2025), about $574 a year less.
- Prices for everyday goods are 3% lower (BEA). The statewide sales tax rate is 6% in Iowa vs 6% in West Virginia, before local sales taxes.
Who moves from West Virginia to Iowa
In the latest IRS migration data (2022–2023), 53 households (114 people) filed their taxes in Iowa after filing in West Virginia the year before. That makes Iowa the #38 destination for people leaving West Virginia. These households reported an average adjusted gross income of $64,472. Going the other way, 44 households moved from Iowa to West Virginia, a net gain of 9 households for Iowa.
Five-year trend
Moves from West Virginia to Iowa peaked in 2020–21 at 135 households, then fell 61% by 2022–23. That is still up 4% from 2018–19.
Source: IRS SOI state-to-state migration files, tax years 2018–19 to 2022–23.
Cost to move from West Virginia to Iowa
Moving cost: $630–$8,720
Moving about 800 miles from West Virginia to Iowa costs roughly $630 – $8,720, depending on how much of the work you hire out.
Distance between the states' population centers by road (estimate).
| Moving method | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) Truck rental, taxes and fees. Add fuel, damage coverage, lodging and your time. | $630 – $2,410 |
| Moving container You pack and load; the company drives the container. | $1,440 – $3,360 |
| Full-service movers Loading, transport and unloading. Packing, storage and other extra services may cost more; confirm the written estimate. | $2,360 – $8,720 |
These ranges are based on summer (peak-season) quotes. A move between October and April usually costs less: peak prices run 20–30% higher.
A rental truck also burns about 80 gallons of fuel over this distance. One-way truck rental prices depend on direction: a truck headed where many people are moving often costs more than the same trip in reverse.
Ranges combine 198 published quote ranges on 22 interstate routes (moveBuddha, retrieved 2026-09-24) with 47 independent published prices from U-Pack, HireAHelper and Move.org, which raised the top of several ranges. They are not quotes; get at least three written estimates.
Alaska and Hawaii ranges come from published carrier rates and moving quotes, dated in each row (Matson's household-goods rates, U-Pack, Royal Hawaiian Movers). See how we estimate.
Shipping a car from West Virginia to Iowa
Car shipping: $800–$1,200
Shipping a sedan from West Virginia to Iowa on an open carrier costs about $800–$1,200, typically 3–7 days in transit over about 800 miles.
Modeled from 32 published 2026 route prices (SGT Auto Transport 'Ship a Car to Another State' sample routes, SGT Auto Transport cost calculator sample routes) plus published mainland-to-Hawaii and mainland-to-Alaska prices. Reverse ocean routes reuse those inbound prices as a proxy, not a separately sourced price for that direction. The 25% SUV and 35% enclosed-carrier uplifts are model assumptions; ocean carrier packages and vehicle charges can differ. Not a quote.
West Virginia vs Iowa take-home pay at every salary
| Salary | Equal salary in IA | Take-home change | Take-home in WV | Take-home in IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,700 | +$196 | $40,911 | $41,107 |
| $75,000 | $72,800 | +$348 | $59,047 | $59,394 |
| $100,000 | $97,000 | +$543 | $75,489 | $76,032 |
| $150,000 | $145,400 | +$933 | $107,810 | $108,743 |
| $250,000 | $241,900 | +$1,713 | $172,621 | $174,334 |
Single filer, 2026 tax rules, standard deduction. "Equal salary" keeps the same after-tax buying power.
Cost of living: West Virginia vs Iowa
| Measure | West Virginia | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 89.5 | 87.8 |
| Housing rents price index | 54.2 | 65.3 |
| Utilities price index | 92.2 | 83.3 |
| Goods price index | 96.5 | 93.7 |
| Median rent (monthly) | $883 | $981 |
| Median home value | $170,800 | $227,300 |
| Median property tax (yearly) | $881 | $2,937 |
| Electricity (residential) | 15.45¢/kWh | 15.93¢/kWh |
| State sales tax rate | 6% | 6% |
| Median household income | $60,798 | $75,501 |
Renting and buying: West Virginia vs Iowa
| Measure | West Virginia | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the median home (30% rule) | $35,320 | $39,240 |
| Monthly cost to own the median home (20% down) | $1,089 | $1,602 |
| Income needed to buy the median home | $46,687 | $68,674 |
| Homeowners insurance (yearly median, homes with a mortgage) | $1,017 | $1,421 |
| Infant child care (center, yearly) | $9,339 | $13,253 |
Mortgage at the Freddie Mac 30-year average with 20% down, plus the median property tax and the median homeowners insurance that owners with a mortgage paid in 2024 (Census ACS). Premiums have risen in most states since then, so get quotes. See buying a home in Iowa for other down payments.
Your yearly budget: West Virginia vs Iowa
On a $60,000 salary, taxes, gross rent including basic utilities, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $38,023 a year in West Virginia and $31,866 in Iowa if you rent: $6,157 less after the move. If you buy the median home, those selected costs use mortgage, property tax, homeowners insurance and electricity instead of gross rent; they come to $42,481 and $40,731 ($1,750 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | WV | IA | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $60,000, single filer | $11,476 | $11,238 | -$238 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,063 | $873 | -$190 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,012 | $1,971 | -$41 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $12,876 | $6,012 | -$6,864 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent and basic utilities ACS median gross rent, 12 months | $10,596 | $11,772 | +$1,176 |
| Total if you rent | $38,023 | $31,866 | -$6,157 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 7.24% | $11,174 | $14,871 | +$3,697 |
| Property tax median home | $881 | $2,937 | +$2,056 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,017 | $1,421 | +$404 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,982 | $1,408 | -$574 |
| Total if you buy | $42,481 | $40,731 | -$1,750 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 state medians. Gross rent includes tenant-paid electricity, gas, water/sewer and fuels; those basic utilities are not added again. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (7.24%, week of October 29, 2026).
State figures: EIA 2025 average residential power bill (buyers only), NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on October 29, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $9,339 a year in West Virginia and $13,253 in Iowa (Child Care Aware of America, 2025 (2024 fallback for Colorado, Washington, DC and South Carolina) state averages).
Cost of living in Iowa cities: Des Moines.
After you arrive in Iowa
- Iowa new resident checklist: driver license and vehicle registration deadlines.
- Taxes the year you move: part-year returns in West Virginia and Iowa.
- How Iowa taxes retirement income.
Frequently asked questions
How much salary do I need in Iowa to live like I do in West Virginia?
A $60,000 salary in West Virginia works out to about $58,500 in Iowa once 2026 federal and state taxes and BEA regional price levels are counted. At $100,000 it is about $97,000.
Will I pay less tax in Iowa than in West Virginia?
Yes, about $238 less a year in income and payroll taxes on a $60,000 salary (19.1% of pay in West Virginia vs 18.7% in Iowa). Property and sales taxes are shown separately.
How much does it cost to move from West Virginia to Iowa?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 800 miles, expect roughly $630–$2,410 with a rental truck, $1,440–$3,360 with a moving container, or $2,360–$8,720 with full-service movers.
Are more people moving from West Virginia to Iowa?
Moves from West Virginia to Iowa peaked in 2020–21 at 135 households, then fell 61% by 2022–23. That is still up 4% from 2018–19.
How many people move from West Virginia to Iowa?
IRS migration data for 2022–2023 show 53 households (114 people) moved from West Virginia to Iowa, making Iowa the #38 destination for people leaving West Virginia. 44 households moved the other way.
Is Iowa cheaper than West Virginia?
Overall prices in Iowa are 1.9% lower than West Virginia (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $981 vs $883 a month.
Compare other moves
Where people from West Virginia actually move
- WV to Ohio 3,157 households
- WV to Virginia 2,725 households
- WV to Pennsylvania 1,931 households
- WV to Maryland 1,608 households
- WV to Florida 1,562 households
- WV to North Carolina 1,487 households
- WV to Kentucky 936 households
- WV to South Carolina 823 households
State-agency links identify the responsible tax office; they do not verify every modeled rule. Use forms and guidance for the year you are filing.