Dallas Center, IA vs Volga, SD: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Volga, SD has a modeled overall cost index 13.7% lower than Dallas Center, IA.

Dallas Center, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / month
Volga, SD · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Dallas Center, IA and Volga, SD 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: $825/month in Volga, SD

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $140,099 in Volga, SD

Regional cost estimates: Dallas Center, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Volga, SD uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 13.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$825
Savings
Annual Impact
$9.9K
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.

Dallas Center, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
80.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$320K

Volga, SD

Population:2K
Cost Index:
69.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$317K

Planning the move to Volga?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Dallas Center, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Volga, SD

The Mount Rushmore State

2K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in South Dakota, this city has a population of 2K residents.

💡 Advantage: South Dakota has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dallas Center, IA vs Volga, SD

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.

Other
↓ 20.6%
Dallas Center, IA
$1,748
Volga, SD
$1,388
Difference
$360
less
Transportation
↓ 20.2%
Dallas Center, IA
$1,352
Volga, SD
$1,079
Difference
$273
less
Housing
↓ 2.9%
Dallas Center, IA
$2,035
Volga, SD
$1,976
Difference
$59.24
less
Healthcare
↓ 5.9%
Dallas Center, IA
$782
Volga, SD
$736
Difference
$46.49
less
All Utilities
↓ 8.3%
Dallas Center, IA
$539
Volga, SD
$495
Difference
$44.72
less
Groceries
↓ 4.0%
Dallas Center, IA
$1,044
Volga, SD
$1,002
Difference
$41.87
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$770
To$850
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$810
To$850
↑ $40.00
2 Bed
From$960
To$1,040
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,310
To$1,450
↑ $140
Dallas Center, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$810/mo

Volga, SDZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/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 Dallas Center, IA
$6,675
Monthly in Volga, SD
$825
Difference

Home Values

Dallas Center
Volga
$320K
Median Value
$317K
↑ +2.6%
YoY Change
↑ +5.6%
↑ +24.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.1%

Homes in Volga are 1% less expensive than Dallas Center

Calculate payment - Dallas CenterCalculate payment - Volga

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $10.7K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$892
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
7.1%
Rate difference

Dallas 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

Volga, SD

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Dakota State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Dallas Center, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Volga, SD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.4%
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

Dallas Center
Volga
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
66.4%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Dallas Center, IA to Volga, SD

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Volga, SD for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dallas Center, 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 Dallas Center to Volga moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Dallas Center, IA vs Volga, SD

How do the cost estimates for Dallas Center, IA and Volga, SD compare?

Volga, SD has a modeled overall cost index 13.7% lower than Dallas Center, 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 Dallas Center, IA, the model estimates $140,099 in Volga, SD. 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 Dallas Center, IA and Volga, SD?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $960/month in Dallas Center, IA and $1,040/month in Volga, SD. 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 South Dakota on TaxTakeHome.com

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison