Iowa Falls, IA vs Clay Center, KS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Clay Center, KS has a modeled overall cost index 4.2% lower than Iowa Falls, IA.

Iowa Falls, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,020 / month
Clay Center, KS · modeled 2BR rent: $960 / 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 Iowa Falls, IA and Clay Center, 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

Current salary in Iowa Falls, IA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $299/month in Clay Center, KS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,414 in Clay Center, KS

Regional cost estimates: Iowa Falls, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Clay Center, KS uses Lincoln, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 4.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$299

Savings

Annual Impact

$3.6K

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.

Iowa Falls, IA

Population:5K

Cost Index:

81.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$149K

Clay Center, KS

Population:4K

Cost Index:

77.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$152K

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Iowa Falls, IA

The Hawkeye State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Clay Center, KS

The Sunflower State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Iowa Falls, IA vs Clay Center, 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.

Category	Iowa Falls, IA	Clay Center, KS	Difference	Change
Other	$1,748/mo	$1,622/mo	↓ $126less	7.2%
Housing	$2,036/mo	$1,953/mo	↓ $82.93less	4.1%
Transportation	$1,352/mo	$1,281/mo	↓ $71.11less	5.3%
Healthcare	$782/mo	$761/mo	↓ $20.83less	2.7%
Groceries	$1,043/mo	$1,060/mo	↑ $16.83more	1.6%
All Utilities	$539/mo	$525/mo	↓ $14.36less	2.7%

Other

↓ 7.2%

Iowa Falls, IA

$1,748

Clay Center, KS

$1,622

Difference

$126

less

Housing

↓ 4.1%

Iowa Falls, IA

$2,036

Clay Center, KS

$1,953

Difference

$82.93

less

Transportation

↓ 5.3%

Iowa Falls, IA

$1,352

Clay Center, KS

$1,281

Difference

$71.11

less

Healthcare

↓ 2.7%

Iowa Falls, IA

$782

Clay Center, KS

$761

Difference

$20.83

less

Groceries

↑ 1.6%

Iowa Falls, IA

$1,043

Clay Center, KS

$1,060

Difference

$16.83

All Utilities

↓ 2.7%

Iowa Falls, IA

$539

Clay Center, KS

$525

Difference

$14.36

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$760

To$730

↓ $30.00

1 Bed

From$780

To$740

↓ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,020

To$960

↓ $60.00

3 Bed

From$1,340

To$1,270

↓ $70.00

Iowa Falls, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Clay Center, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/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 Iowa Falls, IA

$7,201

Monthly in Clay Center, KS

$299

Difference

Home Values

Iowa Falls

Clay Center

$149K

Median Value

$152K

↑ +5%

YoY Change

↑ +4.6%

↑ +20.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +37.3%

Homes in Clay Center are 2% more expensive than Iowa Falls

Calculate payment - Iowa Falls Calculate payment - Clay Center

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

Iowa Falls, 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

Clay Center, 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

Iowa Falls, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

Clay Center, 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

Iowa Falls

Clay Center

45 Good

Air Quality

41 Good

67.5%

Good Air Days

83.7%

92 Moderate

Climate Risk

91 Moderate

🌡☀🌪

Top Hazards

🌪💨

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

25 days

Heat Days >95°F

38 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

25 days

Heat Days >95°F

38 days

Before moving from Iowa Falls, IA to Clay Center, KS

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Clay Center, KS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Iowa Falls, IA. 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 Iowa Falls to Clay Center moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Iowa Falls, IA vs Clay Center, KS

How do the cost estimates for Iowa Falls, IA and Clay Center, KS compare?

Clay Center, KS has a modeled overall cost index 4.2% lower than Iowa Falls, 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 Iowa Falls, IA, the model estimates $146,414 in Clay Center, 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 Iowa Falls, IA and Clay Center, KS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,020/month in Iowa Falls, IA and $960/month in Clay Center, 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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