Clear Lake, IA vs Sioux Center, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Sioux Center, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower than Clear Lake, IA.

Clear Lake, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Sioux Center, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$990 / 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 Clear Lake, IA and Sioux Center, 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

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Estimated savings: $240/month in Sioux Center, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,122 in Sioux Center, IA

Regional cost estimates: Clear Lake, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Sioux Center, IA uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$240
Savings
Annual Impact
$2.9K
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.

Clear Lake, IA

Population:8K
Cost Index:
79.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$313K

Sioux Center, IA

Population:9K
Cost Index:
75.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$336K

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Clear Lake, IA

The Hawkeye State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Sioux Center, IA

The Hawkeye State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Clear Lake, IA vs Sioux Center, 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
↓ 4.0%
Clear Lake, IA
$2,028
Sioux Center, IA
$1,947
Difference
$80.52
less
Other
↓ 4.2%
Clear Lake, IA
$1,742
Sioux Center, IA
$1,669
Difference
$72.60
less
Transportation
↓ 5.2%
Clear Lake, IA
$1,347
Sioux Center, IA
$1,278
Difference
$69.47
less
Healthcare
↓ 2.6%
Clear Lake, IA
$788
Sioux Center, IA
$768
Difference
$20.59
less
Groceries
↑ 1.7%
Clear Lake, IA
$1,052
Sioux Center, IA
$1,069
Difference
$17.55
more
All Utilities
↓ 2.6%
Clear Lake, IA
$544
Sioux Center, IA
$529
Difference
$14.20
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$750
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$730
To$750
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$990
↑ $70.00
3 Bed
From$1,190
To$1,270
↑ $80.00
Clear Lake, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$730/mo

Sioux Center, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/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 Clear Lake, IA
$7,260
Monthly in Sioux Center, IA
$240
Difference

Home Values

Clear Lake
Sioux Center
$313K
Median Value
$336K
↑ +4.3%
YoY Change
↑ +2.7%
↑ +33.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +29.3%

Homes in Sioux Center are 7% more expensive than Clear Lake

Calculate payment - Clear LakeCalculate payment - Sioux Center

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

Clear Lake, 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

Sioux Center, 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

Clear Lake, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Sioux Center, 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

Clear Lake
Sioux Center
45 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
63.7%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
96 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

Before moving from Clear Lake, IA to Sioux Center, 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 Sioux Center, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Clear Lake, 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 Clear Lake to Sioux Center moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Clear Lake, IA vs Sioux Center, IA

How do the cost estimates for Clear Lake, IA and Sioux Center, IA compare?

Sioux Center, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower than Clear Lake, 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 Clear Lake, IA, the model estimates $147,122 in Sioux Center, 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 Clear Lake, IA and Sioux Center, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Clear Lake, IA and $990/month in Sioux Center, 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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