Carlisle, IA vs Portland, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Portland, MI has a modeled overall cost index 2.7% lower than Carlisle, IA.

Carlisle, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,460 / month
Portland, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,450 / 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 Carlisle, IA and Portland, MI 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: $102/month in Portland, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,778 in Portland, MI

Regional cost estimates: Carlisle, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Portland, MI uses Detroit, MI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 2.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$102
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.2K
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.

Carlisle, IA

Population:4K
Cost Index:
82.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$280K

Portland, MI

Population:4K
Cost Index:
80.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$273K

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Carlisle, IA

The Hawkeye State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Portland, MI

The Great Lakes State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Carlisle, IA vs Portland, MI

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
↓ 25.4%
Carlisle, IA
$2,041
Portland, MI
$1,523
Difference
$518
less
Transportation
↑ 25.7%
Carlisle, IA
$1,356
Portland, MI
$1,705
Difference
$349
more
Healthcare
↓ 17.5%
Carlisle, IA
$777
Portland, MI
$641
Difference
$136
less
All Utilities
↑ 18.3%
Carlisle, IA
$536
Portland, MI
$634
Difference
$98.00
more
Other
↑ 3.6%
Carlisle, IA
$1,753
Portland, MI
$1,816
Difference
$63.33
more
Groceries
↑ 4.1%
Carlisle, IA
$1,037
Portland, MI
$1,080
Difference
$42.69
more

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Portland, MI: Portland City Income Tax$1,500/yr (1.0%)

Carlisle, IA has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,180
To$1,010
↓ $170
1 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,110
↓ $120
2 Bed
From$1,460
To$1,450
↓ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,990
To$1,780
↓ $210
Carlisle, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,230–$1,230/mo

Portland, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,110–$1,110/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 Carlisle, IA
$7,398
Monthly in Portland, MI
$102
Difference

Home Values

Carlisle
Portland
$280K
Median Value
$273K
↑ +1.5%
YoY Change
↑ +3.4%
↑ +28.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +36.9%

Homes in Portland are 3% less expensive than Carlisle

Calculate payment - CarlisleCalculate payment - Portland

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $4.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$361
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.9%
Rate difference

Carlisle, 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

Portland, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Carlisle, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Portland, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 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

Carlisle
Portland
45 Good
Air Quality
55 Moderate
67.5%
Good Air Days
32.8%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
99 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Carlisle, IA to Portland, MI

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Portland, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Carlisle, 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 Carlisle to Portland moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Carlisle, IA vs Portland, MI

How do the cost estimates for Carlisle, IA and Portland, MI compare?

Portland, MI has a modeled overall cost index 2.7% lower than Carlisle, 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 Carlisle, IA, the model estimates $148,778 in Portland, MI. 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 Carlisle, IA and Portland, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,460/month in Carlisle, IA and $1,450/month in Portland, MI. 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 Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com

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