

Iowa City vs Minneapolis
$223/mo more in Minneapolis
Iowa CityMinneapolisAbout 260 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Minneapolis leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,741/mo in Minneapolis. $2,518/mo in Iowa City. +$2,676 a year.
Iowa City
$2,518
left each month
Minneapolis
$2,741
+$223 vs Iowa City
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 129 households moved Iowa City → Minneapolis (avg AGI $69,783). 49 went the other way. The whole move →
+$223 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Iowa City | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,542 | $8,245 | +$1,703 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,443 | $2,185 | +$741 |
| Take-home pay | $5,099 | $6,061 | +$962 |
| Rent | $911 | $1,366 | +$455 |
| Getting around | $411 | $504 | +$93 |
| Groceries | $347 | $400 | +$53 |
| Healthcare | $391 | $450 | +$59 |
| Utilities | $217 | $250 | +$33 |
| Everything else | $304 | $350 | +$46 |
| Left over | $2,518 | $2,741 | +$223 |
Salary to match Iowa City
$94,500
Gross pay in Minneapolis that leaves the same amount as $78,500 in Iowa City.
Tax difference
−$2,836
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 22.1% in Iowa City, 26.5% in Minneapolis.
More about Minneapolis
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.
Minneapolis, MN in full
Strong wages, good bones, and a January that averages 9°F at night.
The other way
Start in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis → Iowa City →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Minneapolis than Iowa City?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Minneapolis leaves about $223 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $911 in Iowa City and $1,366 in Minneapolis.
Does Minneapolis have state income tax?
Minneapolis is in Minnesota, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Iowa City to Minneapolis?
The paycheck is taxed in Minnesota. 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 Iowa City and Minneapolis 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.