Cherokee, IA vs Iowa Falls, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Iowa Falls, IA has a modeled overall cost index 6.8% higher than Cherokee, IA.

Cherokee, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $920 / month
Iowa Falls, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,020 / 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 Cherokee, IA and Iowa Falls, 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

Current salary in Cherokee, IA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $408/month in Iowa Falls, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,893 in Iowa Falls, IA

Regional cost estimates: Cherokee, IA uses Omaha, NE. Iowa Falls, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 6.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$408

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$4.9K

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.

Cherokee, IA

Population:5K

Cost Index:

75.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$146K

Iowa Falls, IA

Population:5K

Cost Index:

81.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$149K

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Cherokee, IA

The Hawkeye State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Iowa Falls, IA

The Hawkeye State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Cherokee, IA vs Iowa Falls, 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.

Category	Cherokee, IA	Iowa Falls, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,012/mo	$2,146/mo	↑ $135more	6.7%
Other	$1,724/mo	$1,844/mo	↑ $119more	6.9%
Transportation	$1,320/mo	$1,426/mo	↑ $106more	8.0%
Healthcare	$793/mo	$824/mo	↑ $31.21more	3.9%
All Utilities	$547/mo	$568/mo	↑ $21.52more	3.9%
Groceries	$1,104/mo	$1,100/mo	↓ $4.85less	0.4%

Housing

↑ 6.7%

Cherokee, IA

$2,012

Iowa Falls, IA

$2,146

Difference

$135

Other

↑ 6.9%

Cherokee, IA

$1,724

Iowa Falls, IA

$1,844

Difference

$119

Transportation

↑ 8.0%

Cherokee, IA

$1,320

Iowa Falls, IA

$1,426

Difference

$106

Healthcare

↑ 3.9%

Cherokee, IA

$793

Iowa Falls, IA

$824

Difference

$31.21

All Utilities

↑ 3.9%

Cherokee, IA

$547

Iowa Falls, IA

$568

Difference

$21.52

Groceries

↓ 0.4%

Cherokee, IA

$1,104

Iowa Falls, IA

$1,100

Difference

$4.85

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$680

To$760

↑ $80.00

1 Bed

From$810

To$780

↓ $30.00

2 Bed

From$920

To$1,020

↑ $100

3 Bed

From$1,280

To$1,340

↑ $60.00

Cherokee, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$810/mo

Iowa Falls, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/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 Cherokee, IA

$7,908

Monthly in Iowa Falls, IA

$408

Difference

Home Values

Cherokee

Iowa Falls

$146K

Median Value

$149K

↑ +5.2%

YoY Change

↑ +5%

↑ +31.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +20.9%

Homes in Iowa Falls are 2% more expensive than Cherokee

Calculate payment - Cherokee Calculate payment - Iowa Falls

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

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Cherokee, 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

Iowa Falls, 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

Cherokee, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

Iowa Falls, 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

Cherokee

Iowa Falls

45 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

63.7%

Good Air Days

67.5%

96 High

Climate Risk

92 Moderate

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌡☀🌪

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

35 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

35 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

Before moving from Cherokee, IA to Iowa Falls, IA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Iowa Falls, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Cherokee, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Cherokee to Iowa Falls moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Cherokee, IA vs Iowa Falls, IA

How do the cost estimates for Cherokee, IA and Iowa Falls, IA compare?

Iowa Falls, IA has a modeled overall cost index 6.8% higher than Cherokee, 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 Cherokee, IA, the model estimates $154,893 in Iowa Falls, 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 Cherokee, IA and Iowa Falls, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Cherokee, IA and $1,020/month in Iowa Falls, 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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