

Charlotte vs Iowa City
$35/mo less in Iowa City
CharlotteIowa CityAbout 733 miles apart, a flight.
- Iowa City costs you more
- Property tax 1.54%
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,522/mo in Iowa City. $2,557/mo in Charlotte. −$420 a year.
Charlotte
$2,557
left each month
Iowa City
$2,522
−$35 vs Charlotte
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
−$35 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Charlotte | Iowa City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,708 | $6,548 | −$1,160 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,869 | $1,445 | −$424 |
| Take-home pay | $5,839 | $5,103 | −$736 |
| Rent | $1,322 | $911 | −$411 |
| Getting around | $568 | $411 | −$157 |
| Groceries | $384 | $347 | −$37 |
| Healthcare | $432 | $391 | −$41 |
| Utilities | $240 | $217 | −$23 |
| Everything else | $336 | $304 | −$32 |
| Left over | $2,557 | $2,522 | −$35 |
Salary to match Charlotte
$79,000
Gross pay in Iowa City that leaves the same amount as $92,500 in Charlotte.
Tax difference
+$958
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 24.2% in Charlotte, 22.1% in Iowa City.
More about Iowa City
Charlotte, NC in full
A banking hub with a 4.25% flat tax and mild winters.
Iowa City, IA in full
A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,085 and 207 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.
The other way
Start in Iowa City.
Iowa City → Charlotte →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Iowa City than Charlotte?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Iowa City leaves about $35 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,322 in Charlotte and $911 in Iowa City.
Does Iowa City have state income tax?
Iowa City is in Iowa, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Charlotte to Iowa City?
The paycheck is taxed in Iowa. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Charlotte and Iowa City changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.