

Ames vs Hartford
$23/mo less in Hartford
AmesHartfordAbout 1,086 miles apart, a flight.
- Hartford costs you more
- Property tax 1.78%
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,378/mo in Hartford. $2,401/mo in Ames. −$276 a year.
Ames
$2,401
left each month
Hartford
$2,378
−$23 vs Ames
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
−$23 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Ames | Hartford | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,208 | $8,101 | +$1,893 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,332 | $2,086 | +$755 |
| Take-home pay | $4,877 | $6,015 | +$1,138 |
| Rent | $760 | $1,625 | +$865 |
| Getting around | $457 | $519 | +$62 |
| Groceries | $347 | $412 | +$65 |
| Healthcare | $391 | $464 | +$73 |
| Utilities | $217 | $258 | +$41 |
| Everything else | $304 | $361 | +$57 |
| Left over | $2,401 | $2,378 | −$23 |
Salary to match Ames
$97,500
Gross pay in Hartford that leaves the same amount as $74,500 in Ames.
Tax difference
−$2,321
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 21.4% in Ames, 25.8% in Hartford.
More about Hartford
Ames, IA in full
A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $905 and 207 sunny days; commutes average 19 minutes.
Hartford, CT in full
Insurance-industry wages, cheap houses, and a 1.78% property tax rate.
The other way
Start in Hartford.
Hartford → Ames →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Hartford than Ames?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Hartford leaves about $23 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $760 in Ames and $1,625 in Hartford.
Does Hartford have state income tax?
Hartford is in Connecticut, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Ames to Hartford?
The paycheck is taxed in Connecticut. 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 Ames and Hartford 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.