Fort Calhoun, NE vs Arnolds Park, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Arnolds Park, IA has a modeled overall cost index 10.7% lower than Fort Calhoun, NE.

Fort Calhoun, NE · modeled 2BR rent
$1,160 / month
Arnolds Park, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / 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 Fort Calhoun, NE and Arnolds Park, 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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Estimated savings: $647/month in Arnolds Park, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,239 in Arnolds Park, IA

Regional cost estimates: Fort Calhoun, NE uses Omaha, NE. Arnolds Park, IA uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 10.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$647
Savings
Annual Impact
$7.8K
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.

Fort Calhoun, NE

Population:1K
Cost Index:
79.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$521K

Arnolds Park, IA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
70.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$453K

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Fort Calhoun, NE

The Cornhusker State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Arnolds Park, IA

The Hawkeye State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fort Calhoun, NE vs Arnolds Park, 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
↓ 17.7%
Fort Calhoun, NE
$1,736
Arnolds Park, IA
$1,428
Difference
$308
less
Transportation
↓ 16.5%
Fort Calhoun, NE
$1,329
Arnolds Park, IA
$1,110
Difference
$219
less
Groceries
↓ 5.9%
Fort Calhoun, NE
$1,089
Arnolds Park, IA
$1,025
Difference
$64.65
less
All Utilities
↓ 6.2%
Fort Calhoun, NE
$539
Arnolds Park, IA
$506
Difference
$33.32
less
Healthcare
↓ 3.8%
Fort Calhoun, NE
$782
Arnolds Park, IA
$753
Difference
$29.53
less
Housing
↑ 0.4%
Fort Calhoun, NE
$2,025
Arnolds Park, IA
$2,032
Difference
$7.34
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$920
To$810
↓ $110
1 Bed
From$970
To$810
↓ $160
2 Bed
From$1,160
To$1,070
↓ $90.00
3 Bed
From$1,540
To$1,290
↓ $250
Fort Calhoun, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$970/mo

Arnolds Park, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$810/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 Fort Calhoun, NE
$6,853
Monthly in Arnolds Park, IA
$647
Difference

Home Values

Fort Calhoun
Arnolds Park
$521K
Median Value
$453K
↑ +2.3%
YoY Change
↓ -2.4%
↑ +36%
5-Year Change
↑ +42.8%

Homes in Arnolds Park are 13% less expensive than Fort Calhoun

Calculate payment - Fort CalhounCalculate payment - Arnolds Park

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.4K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$114
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Fort Calhoun, NE

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Nebraska State Tax
Effective: 6.2%
$9.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.9%
$46.3K
Take-Home Pay
$8,638/month
$103.7K

Arnolds Park, 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

Fort Calhoun, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

Arnolds Park, 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

Fort Calhoun
Arnolds Park
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
66.4%
96 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Fort Calhoun, NE to Arnolds Park, 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 Arnolds Park, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fort Calhoun, NE. 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 Fort Calhoun to Arnolds Park moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Fort Calhoun, NE vs Arnolds Park, IA

How do the cost estimates for Fort Calhoun, NE and Arnolds Park, IA compare?

Arnolds Park, IA has a modeled overall cost index 10.7% lower than Fort Calhoun, NE. 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 Fort Calhoun, NE, the model estimates $142,239 in Arnolds Park, 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 Fort Calhoun, NE and Arnolds Park, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,160/month in Fort Calhoun, NE and $1,070/month in Arnolds Park, 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 Nebraska and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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