Buffalo, IA vs Rock Port, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rock Port, MO has a modeled overall cost index 1.0% higher than Buffalo, IA.

Buffalo, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,010 / month
Rock Port, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / 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 Buffalo, IA and Rock Port, MO 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: $26.74/month in Rock Port, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,679 in Rock Port, MO

Regional cost estimates: Buffalo, IA uses Madison, WI. Rock Port, MO uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 1.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$26.74
Savings
Annual Impact
$321
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.

Buffalo, IA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
75.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$153K

Rock Port, MO

Population:1K
Cost Index:
76.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$158K

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Buffalo, IA

The Hawkeye State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Rock Port, MO

The Show-Me State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Buffalo, IA vs Rock Port, MO

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
↓ 10.9%
Buffalo, IA
$2,254
Rock Port, MO
$2,008
Difference
$246
less
Other
↑ 5.7%
Buffalo, IA
$1,628
Rock Port, MO
$1,721
Difference
$92.73
more
Groceries
↑ 6.9%
Buffalo, IA
$1,026
Rock Port, MO
$1,096
Difference
$70.32
more
Transportation
↑ 3.0%
Buffalo, IA
$1,279
Rock Port, MO
$1,318
Difference
$38.47
more
Healthcare
↑ 2.4%
Buffalo, IA
$769
Rock Port, MO
$787
Difference
$18.39
more
All Utilities
↓ 0.2%
Buffalo, IA
$544
Rock Port, MO
$543
Difference
$0.82
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$740
↑ $20.00
1 Bed
From$820
To$760
↓ $60.00
2 Bed
From$1,010
To$1,000
↓ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,200
↓ $120
Buffalo, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$820/mo

Rock Port, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/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 Buffalo, IA
$7,473
Monthly in Rock Port, MO
$26.74
Difference

Home Values

Buffalo
Rock Port
$153K
Median Value
$158K
↑ +3.9%
YoY Change
↑ +2.6%
↑ +26%
5-Year Change
↑ +35.8%

Homes in Rock Port are 3% more expensive than Buffalo

Calculate payment - BuffaloCalculate payment - Rock Port

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.8K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$231
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.8%
Rate difference

Buffalo, 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

Rock Port, 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

Additional Tax Information

Buffalo, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Rock Port, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 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

Buffalo
Rock Port
42 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
72.1%
Good Air Days
63.7%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

Before moving from Buffalo, IA to Rock Port, MO

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Rock Port, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Buffalo, IA. 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 Buffalo to Rock Port moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Rock Port, MO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Buffalo, IA vs Rock Port, MO

How do the cost estimates for Buffalo, IA and Rock Port, MO compare?

Rock Port, MO has a modeled overall cost index 1.0% higher than Buffalo, IA. 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 Buffalo, IA, the model estimates $149,679 in Rock Port, MO. 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 Buffalo, IA and Rock Port, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,010/month in Buffalo, IA and $1,000/month in Rock Port, MO. 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 Iowa and Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

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