Crystal City, MO vs Manchester, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Manchester, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.4% higher than Crystal City, MO.

Crystal City, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / month
Manchester, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / 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 Crystal City, MO and Manchester, 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: $292/month in Manchester, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,509 in Manchester, IA

Regional cost estimates: Crystal City, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Manchester, IA uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 1.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$292
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.5K
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.

Crystal City, MO

Population:5K
Cost Index:
79.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$219K

Manchester, IA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
80.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$212K

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Crystal City, MO

The Show-Me State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Manchester, IA

The Hawkeye State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Crystal City, MO vs Manchester, 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
↑ 23.7%
Crystal City, MO
$1,911
Manchester, IA
$2,364
Difference
$454
more
Healthcare
↑ 25.1%
Crystal City, MO
$625
Manchester, IA
$782
Difference
$157
more
Other
↓ 6.3%
Crystal City, MO
$1,823
Manchester, IA
$1,708
Difference
$115
less
Groceries
↓ 7.4%
Crystal City, MO
$1,126
Manchester, IA
$1,043
Difference
$82.83
less
All Utilities
↓ 13.0%
Crystal City, MO
$635
Manchester, IA
$553
Difference
$82.57
less
Transportation
↓ 2.7%
Crystal City, MO
$1,379
Manchester, IA
$1,342
Difference
$37.60
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$840
To$680
↓ $160
1 Bed
From$870
To$840
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,070
To$920
↓ $150
3 Bed
From$1,380
To$1,100
↓ $280
Crystal City, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$870/mo

Manchester, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$840/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 Crystal City, MO
$7,792
Monthly in Manchester, IA
$292
Difference

Home Values

Crystal City
Manchester
$219K
Median Value
$212K
↑ +4.8%
YoY Change
↑ +3.2%
↑ +40.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +27.9%

Homes in Manchester are 3% less expensive than Crystal City

Calculate payment - Crystal CityCalculate payment - Manchester

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.8K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$231
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.8%
Rate difference

Crystal City, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Manchester, 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

Crystal City, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Manchester, 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

Crystal City
Manchester
54 Moderate
Air Quality
42 Good
38%
Good Air Days
72.1%
99 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Crystal City, MO to Manchester, 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 Manchester, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Crystal City, MO. 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 Crystal City to Manchester moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Crystal City, MO vs Manchester, IA

How do the cost estimates for Crystal City, MO and Manchester, IA compare?

Manchester, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.4% higher than Crystal City, MO. 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 Crystal City, MO, the model estimates $153,509 in Manchester, 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 Crystal City, MO and Manchester, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,070/month in Crystal City, MO and $920/month in Manchester, 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Missouri and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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