Johnston, IA vs Elk River, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Elk River, MN has a modeled overall cost index 18.2% higher than Johnston, IA.

Johnston, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,510 / month
Elk River, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,600 / 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 Johnston, IA and Elk River, MN 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: $1,202/month in Elk River, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,427 in Elk River, MN

Regional cost estimates: Johnston, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Elk River, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 18.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,202
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$14.4K
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.

Johnston, IA

Population:25K
Cost Index:
85.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$388K

Elk River, MN

Population:27K
Cost Index:
101.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$403K

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Johnston, IA

The Hawkeye State

25K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Elk River, MN

The North Star State

27K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 27K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Johnston, IA vs Elk River, MN

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
↑ 33.0%
Johnston, IA
$2,054
Elk River, MN
$2,732
Difference
$678
more
Other
↑ 8.8%
Johnston, IA
$1,764
Elk River, MN
$1,919
Difference
$155
more
Transportation
↑ 9.3%
Johnston, IA
$1,365
Elk River, MN
$1,492
Difference
$127
more
Groceries
↑ 12.3%
Johnston, IA
$1,023
Elk River, MN
$1,149
Difference
$126
more
Healthcare
↑ 10.1%
Johnston, IA
$766
Elk River, MN
$844
Difference
$77.27
more
All Utilities
↑ 7.3%
Johnston, IA
$528
Elk River, MN
$567
Difference
$38.75
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,220
To$1,160
↓ $60.00
1 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,320
↑ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,510
To$1,600
↑ $90.00
3 Bed
From$2,060
To$2,120
↑ $60.00
Johnston, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,270–$1,270/mo

Elk River, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,320–$1,320/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 Johnston, IA
$8,702
Monthly in Elk River, MN
$1,202
Difference

Home Values

Johnston
Elk River
$388K
Median Value
$403K
↑ +0.6%
YoY Change
↑ +1.9%
↑ +26.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +26.9%

Homes in Elk River are 4% more expensive than Johnston

Calculate payment - JohnstonCalculate payment - Elk River

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $272
Per year
Monthly Difference
$22.70
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Johnston, 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

Elk River, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Additional Tax Information

Johnston, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Elk River, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 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

Johnston
Elk River
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
66.4%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Johnston, IA to Elk River, MN

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Elk River, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Johnston, 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 Johnston to Elk River moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Elk River, MN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Johnston, IA vs Elk River, MN

How do the cost estimates for Johnston, IA and Elk River, MN compare?

Elk River, MN has a modeled overall cost index 18.2% higher than Johnston, 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 Johnston, IA, the model estimates $164,427 in Elk River, MN. 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 Johnston, IA and Elk River, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,510/month in Johnston, IA and $1,600/month in Elk River, MN. 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 Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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