Fort Madison, IA vs Wellington, KS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Wellington, KS has a modeled overall cost index 0.7% higher than Fort Madison, IA.

Fort Madison, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,010 / month
Wellington, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,050 / 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 Madison, IA and Wellington, KS 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: $26.53/month in Wellington, KS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,318 in Wellington, KS

Regional cost estimates: Fort Madison, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Wellington, KS uses Wichita, KS. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 0.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$26.53
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$318
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 Madison, IA

Population:10K
Cost Index:
78.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$102K

Wellington, KS

Population:8K
Cost Index:
78.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$106K

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Fort Madison, IA

The Hawkeye State

10K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Wellington, KS

The Sunflower State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fort Madison, IA vs Wellington, KS

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
↑ 7.6%
Fort Madison, IA
$1,739
Wellington, KS
$1,871
Difference
$132
more
Housing
↓ 6.5%
Fort Madison, IA
$2,025
Wellington, KS
$1,894
Difference
$131
less
Healthcare
↓ 12.3%
Fort Madison, IA
$791
Wellington, KS
$694
Difference
$97.04
less
All Utilities
↑ 17.0%
Fort Madison, IA
$545
Wellington, KS
$638
Difference
$92.59
more
Transportation
↑ 1.9%
Fort Madison, IA
$1,345
Wellington, KS
$1,371
Difference
$25.76
more
Groceries
↑ 0.4%
Fort Madison, IA
$1,055
Wellington, KS
$1,059
Difference
$4.25
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$700
To$740
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$770
To$800
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,010
To$1,050
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,330
To$1,260
↓ $70.00
Fort Madison, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/mo

Wellington, KSZIP-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 Fort Madison, IA
$7,527
Monthly in Wellington, KS
$26.53
Difference

Home Values

Fort Madison
Wellington
$102K
Median Value
$106K
↓ -3%
YoY Change
↓ -3.4%
↑ +12.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +47%

Homes in Wellington are 4% more expensive than Fort Madison

Calculate payment - Fort MadisonCalculate payment - Wellington

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$190
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.5%
Rate difference

Fort Madison, 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

Wellington, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Fort Madison, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Wellington, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

💡 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 Madison
Wellington
45 Good
Air Quality
43 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
75.1%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
97 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days

Before moving from Fort Madison, IA to Wellington, KS

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Wellington, KS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison to Wellington moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Fort Madison, IA vs Wellington, KS

How do the cost estimates for Fort Madison, IA and Wellington, KS compare?

Wellington, KS has a modeled overall cost index 0.7% higher than Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison, IA, the model estimates $150,318 in Wellington, KS. 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 Madison, IA and Wellington, KS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,010/month in Fort Madison, IA and $1,050/month in Wellington, KS. 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 Kansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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