Burlington, IA vs Fort Dodge, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fort Dodge, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% higher than Burlington, IA.

Burlington, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,080 / month
Fort Dodge, 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 Burlington, IA and Fort Dodge, 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: $259/month in Fort Dodge, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,108 in Fort Dodge, IA

Regional cost estimates: Burlington, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Fort Dodge, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 4.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$259
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.1K
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.

Burlington, IA

Population:24K
Cost Index:
81.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$120K

Fort Dodge, IA

Population:25K
Cost Index:
84.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$125K

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Burlington, IA

The Hawkeye State

24K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Fort Dodge, IA

The Hawkeye State

25K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 25K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Burlington, IA vs Fort Dodge, 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
↑ 4.1%
Burlington, IA
$2,036
Fort Dodge, IA
$2,120
Difference
$83.62
more
Other
↑ 4.1%
Burlington, IA
$1,749
Fort Dodge, IA
$1,821
Difference
$71.82
more
Transportation
↑ 4.1%
Burlington, IA
$1,353
Fort Dodge, IA
$1,408
Difference
$55.55
more
Groceries
↑ 2.0%
Burlington, IA
$1,042
Fort Dodge, IA
$1,063
Difference
$21.18
more
Healthcare
↑ 2.0%
Burlington, IA
$781
Fort Dodge, IA
$797
Difference
$15.88
more
All Utilities
↑ 2.0%
Burlington, IA
$539
Fort Dodge, IA
$550
Difference
$10.95
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$740
To$710
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$820
To$720
↓ $100
2 Bed
From$1,080
To$940
↓ $140
3 Bed
From$1,390
To$1,210
↓ $180
Burlington, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$820/mo

Fort Dodge, 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 Burlington, IA
$7,759
Monthly in Fort Dodge, IA
$259
Difference

Home Values

Burlington
Fort Dodge
$120K
Median Value
$125K
↑ +1.3%
YoY Change
↑ +1.1%
↑ +13.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +14.1%

Homes in Fort Dodge are 4% more expensive than Burlington

Calculate payment - BurlingtonCalculate payment - Fort Dodge

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Burlington, 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

Fort Dodge, 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

Burlington, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Fort Dodge, 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

Burlington
Fort Dodge
45 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
67.5%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Burlington, IA to Fort Dodge, 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 Fort Dodge, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Burlington, 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 Burlington to Fort Dodge moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Burlington, IA vs Fort Dodge, IA

How do the cost estimates for Burlington, IA and Fort Dodge, IA compare?

Fort Dodge, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% higher than Burlington, 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 Burlington, IA, the model estimates $153,108 in Fort Dodge, 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 Burlington, IA and Fort Dodge, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,080/month in Burlington, IA and $940/month in Fort Dodge, 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.

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