

Cincinnati vs Iowa City
$184/mo less in Iowa City
CincinnatiIowa CityAbout 414 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Iowa City costs you more
- Property tax 1.54%
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,528/mo in Iowa City. $2,712/mo in Cincinnati. −$2,208 a year.
Cincinnati
$2,712
left each month
Iowa City
$2,528
−$184 vs Cincinnati
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
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−$184 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Cincinnati | Iowa City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,625 | $6,557 | −$1,068 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,864 | $1,448 | −$416 |
| Take-home pay | $5,761 | $5,109 | −$652 |
| Rent | $1,168 | $911 | −$257 |
| Getting around | $520 | $411 | −$109 |
| Groceries | $376 | $347 | −$29 |
| Healthcare | $423 | $391 | −$32 |
| Utilities | $235 | $217 | −$18 |
| Everything else | $329 | $304 | −$25 |
| Left over | $2,712 | $2,528 | −$184 |
Salary to match Cincinnati
$82,000
Gross pay in Iowa City that leaves the same amount as $91,500 in Cincinnati.
Tax difference
+$1,195
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 24.5% in Cincinnati, 22.1% in Iowa City.
More about Iowa City
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.
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 → Cincinnati →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Iowa City than Cincinnati?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Iowa City leaves about $184 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,168 in Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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.