Dawson, MN vs Guthrie Center, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Guthrie Center, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.4% higher than Dawson, MN.

Dawson, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Guthrie Center, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$950 / 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 Dawson, MN and Guthrie 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $221/month in Guthrie Center, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,648 in Guthrie Center, IA

Regional cost estimates: Dawson, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Guthrie Center, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 4.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$221
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$2.6K
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.

Dawson, MN

Population:1K
Cost Index:
76.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$192K

Guthrie Center, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
80.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$193K

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Dawson, MN

The North Star State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Guthrie Center, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dawson, MN vs Guthrie 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.

Other
↑ 13.4%
Dawson, MN
$1,585
Guthrie Center, IA
$1,797
Difference
$212
more
Housing
↓ 7.2%
Dawson, MN
$2,256
Guthrie Center, IA
$2,092
Difference
$163
less
Transportation
↑ 12.8%
Dawson, MN
$1,232
Guthrie Center, IA
$1,390
Difference
$158
more
All Utilities
↑ 3.5%
Dawson, MN
$538
Guthrie Center, IA
$557
Difference
$18.72
more
Groceries
↓ 1.1%
Dawson, MN
$1,089
Guthrie Center, IA
$1,077
Difference
$12.36
less
Healthcare
↑ 0.9%
Dawson, MN
$800
Guthrie Center, IA
$807
Difference
$7.17
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$670
To$770
↑ $100
1 Bed
From$830
To$800
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$970
To$950
↓ $20.00
3 Bed
From$1,350
To$1,290
↓ $60.00
Dawson, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/mo

Guthrie Center, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/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 Dawson, MN
$7,721
Monthly in Guthrie Center, IA
$221
Difference

Home Values

Dawson
Guthrie Center
$192K
Median Value
$193K
↑ +11.5%
YoY Change
↑ +5.8%
↑ +44.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +43.7%
Calculate payment - DawsonCalculate payment - Guthrie Center

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $272
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$22.70
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Dawson, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Guthrie 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

Dawson, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Guthrie 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

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Dawson, MN vs Guthrie Center, IA

How do the cost estimates for Dawson, MN and Guthrie Center, IA compare?

Guthrie Center, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.4% higher than Dawson, MN. 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 Dawson, MN, the model estimates $152,648 in Guthrie 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 Dawson, MN and Guthrie Center, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Dawson, MN and $950/month in Guthrie 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.

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

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