East Chicago, IN vs Fort Dodge, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fort Dodge, IA has a modeled overall cost index 13.0% lower than East Chicago, IN.

East Chicago, IN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,040 / month
Fort Dodge, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $940 / 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 East Chicago, IN and Fort Dodge, 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

Current salary in East Chicago, IN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,158/month in Fort Dodge, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $136,109 in Fort Dodge, IA

Regional cost estimates: East Chicago, IN uses Chicago, IL. Fort Dodge, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 13.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,158

Savings

Annual Impact

$13.9K

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.

East Chicago, IN

Population:26K

Cost Index:

97.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$125K

Fort Dodge, IA

Population:25K

Cost Index:

84.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$125K

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East Chicago, IN

The Hoosier State

26K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Fort Dodge, IA

The Hawkeye State

25K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 25K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: East Chicago, IN vs Fort Dodge, 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.

Category	East Chicago, IN	Fort Dodge, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,447/mo	$1,733/mo	↓ $714less	29.2%
Transportation	$1,490/mo	$1,151/mo	↓ $339less	22.7%
Healthcare	$556/mo	$651/mo	↑ $95.16more	17.1%
Groceries	$963/mo	$869/mo	↓ $93.44less	9.7%
Other	$1,559/mo	$1,488/mo	↓ $70.18less	4.5%
All Utilities	$486/mo	$449/mo	↓ $36.32less	7.5%

Housing

↓ 29.2%

East Chicago, IN

$2,447

Fort Dodge, IA

$1,733

Difference

$714

less

Transportation

↓ 22.7%

East Chicago, IN

$1,490

Fort Dodge, IA

$1,151

Difference

$339

less

Healthcare

↑ 17.1%

East Chicago, IN

$556

Fort Dodge, IA

$651

Difference

$95.16

Groceries

↓ 9.7%

East Chicago, IN

$963

Fort Dodge, IA

$869

Difference

$93.44

less

Other

↓ 4.5%

East Chicago, IN

$1,559

Fort Dodge, IA

$1,488

Difference

$70.18

less

All Utilities

↓ 7.5%

East Chicago, IN

$486

Fort Dodge, IA

$449

Difference

$36.32

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$760

To$710

↓ $50.00

1 Bed

From$850

To$720

↓ $130

2 Bed

From$1,040

To$940

↓ $100

3 Bed

From$1,270

To$1,210

↓ $60.00

East Chicago, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/mo

Fort Dodge, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/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 East Chicago, IN

$6,342

Monthly in Fort Dodge, IA

$1,158

Difference

Home Values

East Chicago

Fort Dodge

$125K

Median Value

$125K

↓ -3.9%

YoY Change

↑ +1.1%

↑ +52.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +14.1%

Calculate payment - East Chicago Calculate payment - Fort Dodge

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $5.9K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$488

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

3.9%

Rate difference

East Chicago, IN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Indiana State Tax

Effective: 3.2%

$4.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.9%

$41.9K

Take-Home Pay

$9,012/month

$108.1K

Fort Dodge, 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

East Chicago, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

Fort Dodge, 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

East Chicago

Fort Dodge

54 Moderate

Air Quality

45 Good

35.8%

Good Air Days

67.5%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

92 Moderate

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌡☀🌪

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

Before moving from East Chicago, IN to Fort Dodge, IA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fort Dodge, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in East Chicago, IN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your East Chicago to Fort Dodge moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: East Chicago, IN vs Fort Dodge, IA

How do the cost estimates for East Chicago, IN and Fort Dodge, IA compare?

Fort Dodge, IA has a modeled overall cost index 13.0% lower than East Chicago, IN. 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 East Chicago, IN, the model estimates $136,109 in Fort Dodge, 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 East Chicago, IN and Fort Dodge, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,040/month in East Chicago, IN and $940/month in Fort Dodge, 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 Indiana and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com