Eagle River, WI vs Palo, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Palo, IA has a modeled overall cost index 11.4% higher than Eagle River, WI.

Eagle River, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,060 / month
Palo, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,130 / 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 Eagle River, WI and Palo, 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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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $590/month in Palo, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,083 in Palo, IA

Regional cost estimates: Eagle River, WI uses Madison, WI. Palo, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 11.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$590
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$7.1K
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.

Eagle River, WI

Population:2K
Cost Index:
69.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$362K

Palo, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
77.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$335K

Planning the move to Palo?

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Eagle River, WI

The Badger State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Palo, 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: Eagle River, WI vs Palo, 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
↑ 16.6%
Eagle River, WI
$1,605
Palo, IA
$1,872
Difference
$266
more
Transportation
↑ 14.8%
Eagle River, WI
$1,261
Palo, IA
$1,448
Difference
$187
more
Groceries
↑ 8.1%
Eagle River, WI
$1,058
Palo, IA
$1,143
Difference
$85.27
more
Healthcare
↑ 8.1%
Eagle River, WI
$793
Palo, IA
$857
Difference
$64.21
more
Housing
↓ 1.9%
Eagle River, WI
$2,222
Palo, IA
$2,179
Difference
$42.75
less
All Utilities
↑ 5.4%
Eagle River, WI
$561
Palo, IA
$591
Difference
$30.36
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$830
To$780
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$860
To$860
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,060
To$1,130
↑ $70.00
3 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,520
↑ $250
Eagle River, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/mo

Palo, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/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 Eagle River, WI
$8,090
Monthly in Palo, IA
$590
Difference

Home Values

Eagle River
Palo
$362K
Median Value
$335K
↑ +3.3%
YoY Change
↑ +3.6%
↑ +44.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.3%

Homes in Palo are 7% less expensive than Eagle River

Calculate payment - Eagle RiverCalculate payment - Palo

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.9K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$154
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.2%
Rate difference

Eagle River, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Palo, 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

Eagle River, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Palo, 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

Eagle River
Palo
42 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
72.1%
Good Air Days
67.5%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Eagle River, WI to Palo, 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 Palo, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Eagle River, WI. 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 Eagle River to Palo moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Eagle River, WI vs Palo, IA

How do the cost estimates for Eagle River, WI and Palo, IA compare?

Palo, IA has a modeled overall cost index 11.4% higher than Eagle River, WI. 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 Eagle River, WI, the model estimates $157,083 in Palo, 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 Eagle River, WI and Palo, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,060/month in Eagle River, WI and $1,130/month in Palo, 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 Wisconsin and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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