

Cincinnati vs Dubuque
$266/mo more in Dubuque
CincinnatiDubuqueAbout 409 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Dubuque leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,978/mo in Dubuque. $2,712/mo in Cincinnati. +$3,192 a year.
Cincinnati
$2,712
left each month
Dubuque
$2,978
+$266 vs Cincinnati
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
+$266 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Cincinnati | Dubuque | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,625 | $7,204 | −$421 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,864 | $1,665 | −$200 |
| Take-home pay | $5,761 | $5,539 | −$221 |
| Rent | $1,168 | $806 | −$362 |
| Getting around | $520 | $496 | −$24 |
| Groceries | $376 | $347 | −$29 |
| Healthcare | $423 | $391 | −$32 |
| Utilities | $235 | $217 | −$18 |
| Everything else | $329 | $304 | −$25 |
| Left over | $2,712 | $2,978 | +$266 |
Salary to match Cincinnati
$81,500
Gross pay in Dubuque that leaves the same amount as $91,500 in Cincinnati.
Tax difference
+$900
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 24.5% in Cincinnati, 23.1% in Dubuque.
More about Dubuque
Cincinnati, OH in full
State income tax topping out at 3.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,391 and 201 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.
Dubuque, IA in full
A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $959 and 204 sunny days; commutes average 17 minutes.
The other way
Start in Dubuque.
Dubuque → Cincinnati →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Dubuque than Cincinnati?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Dubuque leaves about $266 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,168 in Cincinnati and $806 in Dubuque.
Does Dubuque have state income tax?
Dubuque is in Iowa, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Cincinnati to Dubuque?
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 Cincinnati and Dubuque 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.