Ash Grove, MO vs Urbana, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Urbana, IA has a modeled overall cost index 9.7% higher than Ash Grove, MO.

Ash Grove, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$900 / month
Urbana, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$940 / 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 Ash Grove, MO and Urbana, 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 extra cost: $567/month in Urbana, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,809 in Urbana, IA

Regional cost estimates: Ash Grove, MO uses Kansas City, MO. Urbana, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 9.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$567
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.8K
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.

Ash Grove, MO

Population:2K
Cost Index:
70.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$247K

Urbana, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
77.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$249K

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Ash Grove, MO

The Show-Me State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Urbana, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ash Grove, MO vs Urbana, 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
↑ 8.3%
Ash Grove, MO
$2,007
Urbana, IA
$2,174
Difference
$167
more
Other
↑ 9.7%
Ash Grove, MO
$1,703
Urbana, IA
$1,867
Difference
$165
more
Transportation
↑ 12.1%
Ash Grove, MO
$1,288
Urbana, IA
$1,444
Difference
$156
more
Healthcare
↑ 17.6%
Ash Grove, MO
$726
Urbana, IA
$854
Difference
$127
more
All Utilities
↓ 8.1%
Ash Grove, MO
$641
Urbana, IA
$589
Difference
$51.86
less
Groceries
↑ 0.3%
Ash Grove, MO
$1,136
Urbana, IA
$1,139
Difference
$3.60
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$650
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$720
To$720
→ $0
2 Bed
From$900
To$940
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,240
To$1,190
↓ $50.00
Ash Grove, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/mo

Urbana, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/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 Ash Grove, MO
$8,067
Monthly in Urbana, IA
$567
Difference

Home Values

Ash Grove
Urbana
$247K
Median Value
$249K
↑ +0.4%
YoY Change
↑ +2%
↑ +44.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +35.9%

Homes in Urbana are 1% more expensive than Ash Grove

Calculate payment - Ash GroveCalculate payment - Urbana

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

Ash Grove, 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

Urbana, 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

Ash Grove, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Urbana, 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

Ash Grove
Urbana
46 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
59.3%
Good Air Days
67.5%
97 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Ash Grove, MO to Urbana, 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 Urbana, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Ash Grove, 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 Ash Grove to Urbana moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Ash Grove, MO vs Urbana, IA

How do the cost estimates for Ash Grove, MO and Urbana, IA compare?

Urbana, IA has a modeled overall cost index 9.7% higher than Ash Grove, 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 Ash Grove, MO, the model estimates $156,809 in Urbana, 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 Ash Grove, MO and Urbana, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $900/month in Ash Grove, MO and $940/month in Urbana, 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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