Appleton City, MO vs George, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

George, IA has a modeled overall cost index 11.2% lower than Appleton City, MO.

Appleton City, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$890 / month
George, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Appleton City, MO and George, IA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $718/month in George, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $141,380 in George, IA

Regional cost estimates: Appleton City, MO uses Kansas City, MO. George, IA uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 11.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$718
Savings
Annual Impact
$8.6K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Appleton City, MO

Population:1K
Cost Index:
75.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$166K

George, IA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
66.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$176K

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Appleton City, MO

The Show-Me State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 1K residents.

George, IA

The Hawkeye State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Appleton City, MO vs George, IA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 12.2%
Appleton City, MO
$2,027
George, IA
$1,780
Difference
$247
less
Other
↓ 11.3%
Appleton City, MO
$1,720
George, IA
$1,526
Difference
$194
less
Transportation
↓ 10.2%
Appleton City, MO
$1,301
George, IA
$1,168
Difference
$133
less
All Utilities
↓ 17.8%
Appleton City, MO
$628
George, IA
$516
Difference
$112
less
Groceries
↓ 6.3%
Appleton City, MO
$1,113
George, IA
$1,043
Difference
$70.00
less
Healthcare
↑ 5.2%
Appleton City, MO
$712
George, IA
$749
Difference
$36.90
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$620
To$680
↑ $60.00
1 Bed
From$680
To$700
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$890
To$920
↑ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,080
To$1,100
↑ $20.00
Appleton City, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $680–$680/mo

George, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $700–$700/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Appleton City, MO
$6,782
Monthly in George, IA
$718
Difference

Home Values

Appleton City
George
$166K
Median Value
$176K
↓ -1%
YoY Change
↑ +4.1%
↑ +40%
5-Year Change
↑ +42.9%

Homes in George are 6% more expensive than Appleton City

Calculate payment - Appleton CityCalculate payment - George

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.8K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$231
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.8%
Rate difference

Appleton City, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

George, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Appleton City, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

George, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Appleton City
George
46 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
59.3%
Good Air Days
63.7%
97 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

Before moving from Appleton City, MO to George, IA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in George, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Appleton City, MO. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Appleton City to George moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to George, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Appleton City, MO vs George, IA

How do the cost estimates for Appleton City, MO and George, IA compare?

George, IA has a modeled overall cost index 11.2% lower than Appleton City, MO. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Appleton City, MO, the model estimates $141,380 in George, IA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Appleton City, MO and George, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $890/month in Appleton City, MO and $920/month in George, IA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Missouri and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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