Cherokee, IA vs Ulysses, KS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Ulysses, KS has a modeled overall cost index 7.4% lower than Cherokee, IA.

Cherokee, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Ulysses, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,170 / 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 Ulysses, KS 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: $418/month in Ulysses, KS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,982 in Ulysses, KS

Regional cost estimates: Cherokee, IA uses Omaha, NE. Ulysses, KS uses Colorado Springs, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 7.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$418
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.0K
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

Ulysses, KS

Population:6K
Cost Index:
70.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$146K

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Cherokee, IA

The Hawkeye State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Ulysses, KS

The Sunflower State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Cherokee, IA vs Ulysses, KS

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
↑ 11.1%
Cherokee, IA
$2,012
Ulysses, KS
$2,235
Difference
$223
more
Transportation
↓ 16.4%
Cherokee, IA
$1,320
Ulysses, KS
$1,104
Difference
$216
less
Other
↓ 9.8%
Cherokee, IA
$1,724
Ulysses, KS
$1,556
Difference
$168
less
Healthcare
↓ 17.0%
Cherokee, IA
$793
Ulysses, KS
$658
Difference
$134
less
All Utilities
↓ 12.7%
Cherokee, IA
$547
Ulysses, KS
$477
Difference
$69.47
less
Groceries
↓ 4.8%
Cherokee, IA
$1,104
Ulysses, KS
$1,051
Difference
$52.92
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$840
↑ $160
1 Bed
From$810
To$900
↑ $90.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$1,170
↑ $250
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,410
↑ $130
Cherokee, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$810/mo

Ulysses, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $900–$900/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
$7,082
Monthly in Ulysses, KS
$418
Difference

Home Values

Cherokee
Ulysses
$146K
Median Value
$146K
↑ +5.2%
YoY Change
↑ +2.8%
↑ +31.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +28.7%
Calculate payment - CherokeeCalculate payment - Ulysses

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$190
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.5%
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

Ulysses, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Cherokee, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Ulysses, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

💡 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
Ulysses
45 Good
Air Quality
49 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
55.2%
96 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
9 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
9 days

Before moving from Cherokee, IA to Ulysses, KS

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Ulysses, KS 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.
  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 Cherokee to Ulysses moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Cherokee, IA vs Ulysses, KS

How do the cost estimates for Cherokee, IA and Ulysses, KS compare?

Ulysses, KS has a modeled overall cost index 7.4% lower 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 $144,982 in Ulysses, KS. 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 Ulysses, KS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Cherokee, IA and $1,170/month in Ulysses, KS. 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 Kansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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