Eldridge, IA vs Jefferson, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Jefferson, WI has a modeled overall cost index 15.0% higher than Eldridge, IA.

Eldridge, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,160 / month
Jefferson, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,160 / 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 Eldridge, IA and Jefferson, WI 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: $950/month in Jefferson, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $161,403 in Jefferson, WI

Regional cost estimates: Eldridge, IA uses Madison, WI. Jefferson, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 15.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$950
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$11.4K
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.

Eldridge, IA

Population:7K
Cost Index:
83.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$335K

Jefferson, WI

Population:8K
Cost Index:
96.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$328K

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Eldridge, IA

The Hawkeye State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Jefferson, WI

The Badger State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Eldridge, IA vs Jefferson, WI

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
↑ 15.0%
Eldridge, IA
$2,289
Jefferson, WI
$2,633
Difference
$344
more
Other
↑ 15.0%
Eldridge, IA
$1,654
Jefferson, WI
$1,902
Difference
$248
more
Transportation
↑ 15.0%
Eldridge, IA
$1,299
Jefferson, WI
$1,494
Difference
$195
more
Groceries
↑ 7.2%
Eldridge, IA
$991
Jefferson, WI
$1,062
Difference
$71.74
more
Healthcare
↑ 7.2%
Eldridge, IA
$742
Jefferson, WI
$796
Difference
$53.75
more
All Utilities
↑ 7.2%
Eldridge, IA
$525
Jefferson, WI
$563
Difference
$38.00
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$830
To$800
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$940
To$920
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,160
To$1,160
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,520
To$1,540
↑ $20.00
Eldridge, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $940–$940/mo

Jefferson, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$920/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 Eldridge, IA
$8,450
Monthly in Jefferson, WI
$950
Difference

Home Values

Eldridge
Jefferson
$335K
Median Value
$328K
↑ +4.2%
YoY Change
↑ +7.3%
↑ +29.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +42.8%

Homes in Jefferson are 2% less expensive than Eldridge

Calculate payment - EldridgeCalculate payment - Jefferson

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$154
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.2%
Rate difference

Eldridge, 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

Jefferson, 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

Additional Tax Information

Eldridge, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Jefferson, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Eldridge
Jefferson
42 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
72.1%
Good Air Days
72.1%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Eldridge, IA to Jefferson, WI

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Jefferson, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Eldridge, 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 Eldridge to Jefferson moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Eldridge, IA vs Jefferson, WI

How do the cost estimates for Eldridge, IA and Jefferson, WI compare?

Jefferson, WI has a modeled overall cost index 15.0% higher than Eldridge, 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 Eldridge, IA, the model estimates $161,403 in Jefferson, WI. 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 Eldridge, IA and Jefferson, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,160/month in Eldridge, IA and $1,160/month in Jefferson, WI. 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 Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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