Moving from Wisconsin to Iowa
Moving to Iowa on the same salary raises your real buying power by 8.5%. Change the salary below to see your own numbers.
Equal salary in IA: $68,000
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $68,000 in Iowa to match $75,000 in Wisconsin ($7,000 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary, standard deduction.
These changes cover taxes, housing and electricity. Food, transport, healthcare, other spending and one-time moving costs are excluded. They are not total savings. State medians may differ from your neighborhood and current quotes.
| Tax on $75,000 | Wisconsin | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $7,670 | $7,670 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $5,738 | $5,738 |
| State income tax | $2,944 | $2,198 |
| State payroll programs (UI, disability, paid leave, transit) | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $58,649 | $59,394 |
Key facts: Wisconsin to Iowa
- Median rent
- $1,142 → $981/mo
- Median home value
- $294,700 → $227,300
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 94.1 → 87.8
- Road distance
- ≈ 280 miles
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Above average (78.6 → 62.8 of 100)
What changes when you move to Iowa
- Your state taxes fall by about $745 a year on the same $75,000 salary.
- BEA's housing price index is 18% lower in Iowa. Median rent goes from $1,142 to $981 a month and the median home value from $294,700 to $227,300.
- Homeowners pay less property tax: the median bill is $2,937 in Iowa vs $3,680 in Wisconsin.
Who moves from Wisconsin to Iowa
In the latest IRS migration data (2022–2023), 1,458 households (2,282 people) filed their taxes in Iowa after filing in Wisconsin the year before. That makes Iowa the #10 destination for people leaving Wisconsin. These households reported an average adjusted gross income of $60,894. Going the other way, 1,768 households moved from Iowa to Wisconsin, a net loss of 310 households for Iowa.
Five-year trend
Moves from Wisconsin to Iowa peaked in 2021–22 at 1,480 households, then held roughly steady by 2022–23. That is still up 18% from 2018–19.
Source: IRS SOI state-to-state migration files, tax years 2018–19 to 2022–23.
Cost to move from Wisconsin to Iowa
Moving cost: $350–$5,370
Moving about 280 miles from Wisconsin to Iowa costs roughly $350 – $5,370, 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. | $350 – $840 |
| Moving container You pack and load; the company drives the container. | $1,140 – $2,200 |
| Full-service movers Packing, loading, transport and unloading. | $1,900 – $5,370 |
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 28 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 Wisconsin to Iowa
Car shipping: $610–$930
Shipping a sedan from Wisconsin to Iowa on an open carrier costs about $610–$930, typically 1–4 days in transit over about 280 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 Hawaii and Alaska rates. SUVs cost about 25% more and enclosed carriers about 35% more. Not a quote.
Wisconsin vs Iowa take-home pay at every salary
| Salary | Equal salary in IA | Take-home change | Take-home in WI | Take-home in IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $46,000 | +$329 | $40,778 | $41,107 |
| $75,000 | $68,000 | +$745 | $58,649 | $59,394 |
| $100,000 | $90,600 | +$1,279 | $74,752 | $76,032 |
| $150,000 | $135,500 | +$2,261 | $106,482 | $108,743 |
| $250,000 | $225,500 | +$3,761 | $170,573 | $174,334 |
Single filer, 2026 tax rules, standard deduction. "Equal salary" keeps the same after-tax buying power.
Cost of living: Wisconsin vs Iowa
| Measure | Wisconsin | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 94.1 | 87.8 |
| Housing price index | 79.3 | 65.3 |
| Utilities price index | 89.9 | 83.3 |
| Goods price index | 94.3 | 93.7 |
| Median rent (monthly) | $1,142 | $981 |
| Median home value | $294,700 | $227,300 |
| Median property tax (yearly) | $3,680 | $2,937 |
| Electricity (residential) | 19.56¢/kWh | 15.93¢/kWh |
| State sales tax rate | 5% | 6% |
| Median household income | $77,488 | $75,501 |
Renting and buying: Wisconsin vs Iowa
| Measure | Wisconsin | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the median home (30% rule) | $45,680 | $39,240 |
| Monthly cost to own the median home (20% down) | $1,961 | $1,567 |
| Income needed to buy the median home | $84,055 | $67,151 |
| Homeowners insurance (yearly median, homes with a mortgage) | $1,128 | $1,421 |
| Infant child care (center, yearly) | $17,963 | $12,694 |
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: Wisconsin vs Iowa
On a $75,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $41,754 a year in Wisconsin and $37,685 in Iowa if you rent: $4,069 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $51,585 and $44,715 ($6,870 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | WI | IA | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $75,000, single filer | $16,351 | $15,606 | -$745 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,330 | $1,338 | +$8 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $922 | $873 | -$49 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,115 | $2,084 | -$31 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,332 | $6,012 | -$1,320 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $13,704 | $11,772 | -$1,932 |
| Total if you rent | $41,754 | $37,685 | -$4,069 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $18,727 | $14,444 | -$4,283 |
| Property tax median home | $3,680 | $2,937 | -$743 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,128 | $1,421 | +$293 |
| Total if you buy | $51,585 | $44,715 | -$6,870 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 state medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, 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 September 23, 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 $17,963 a year in Wisconsin and $12,694 in Iowa (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 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 Wisconsin and Iowa.
- How Iowa taxes retirement income.
- Live in Iowa but keep working in Wisconsin? See who taxes your wages.
Frequently asked questions
How much salary do I need in Iowa to live like I do in Wisconsin?
A $75,000 salary in Wisconsin works out to about $68,000 in Iowa once 2026 federal and state taxes and BEA regional price levels are counted. At $100,000 it is about $90,600.
Will I pay less tax in Iowa than in Wisconsin?
Yes, about $745 less a year in income and payroll taxes on a $75,000 salary (21.8% of pay in Wisconsin vs 20.8% in Iowa). Property and sales taxes are shown separately.
How much does it cost to move from Wisconsin to Iowa?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 280 miles, expect roughly $350–$840 with a rental truck, $1,140–$2,200 with a moving container, or $1,900–$5,370 with full-service movers.
Are more people moving from Wisconsin to Iowa?
Moves from Wisconsin to Iowa peaked in 2021–22 at 1,480 households, then held roughly steady by 2022–23. That is still up 18% from 2018–19.
How many people move from Wisconsin to Iowa?
IRS migration data for 2022–2023 show 1,458 households (2,282 people) moved from Wisconsin to Iowa, making Iowa the #10 destination for people leaving Wisconsin. 1,768 households moved the other way.
Is Iowa cheaper than Wisconsin?
Overall prices in Iowa are 6.7% lower than Wisconsin (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $981 vs $1,142 a month.
Compare other moves
Where people from Wisconsin actually move
- WI to Minnesota 8,321 households
- WI to Illinois 8,111 households
- WI to Florida 5,044 households
- WI to Texas 3,710 households
- WI to California 2,645 households
- WI to Arizona 2,415 households
- WI to Michigan 2,334 households
- WI to Colorado 2,103 households