Johnston, IA vs New Brighton, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

New Brighton, MN has a modeled overall cost index 17.8% higher than Johnston, IA.

Johnston, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,510 / month
New Brighton, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,570 / 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 New Brighton, 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: $1,177/month in New Brighton, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,121 in New Brighton, MN

Regional cost estimates: Johnston, IA uses Des Moines, IA. New Brighton, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 17.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,177
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$14.1K
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

New Brighton, MN

Population:22K
Cost Index:
101.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$363K

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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.

New Brighton, MN

The North Star State

22K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 22K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Johnston, IA vs New Brighton, 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
↑ 32.5%
Johnston, IA
$2,054
New Brighton, MN
$2,722
Difference
$668
more
Other
↑ 8.4%
Johnston, IA
$1,764
New Brighton, MN
$1,912
Difference
$148
more
Groceries
↑ 12.2%
Johnston, IA
$1,023
New Brighton, MN
$1,147
Difference
$124
more
Transportation
↑ 9.0%
Johnston, IA
$1,365
New Brighton, MN
$1,487
Difference
$122
more
Healthcare
↑ 9.9%
Johnston, IA
$766
New Brighton, MN
$842
Difference
$75.82
more
All Utilities
↑ 7.1%
Johnston, IA
$528
New Brighton, MN
$566
Difference
$37.78
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,220
To$1,140
↓ $80.00
1 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,290
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,510
To$1,570
↑ $60.00
3 Bed
From$2,060
To$2,080
↑ $20.00
Johnston, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,270–$1,270/mo

New Brighton, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/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
$8,677
Monthly in New Brighton, MN
$1,177
Difference

Home Values

Johnston
New Brighton
$388K
Median Value
$363K
↑ +0.6%
YoY Change
↑ +0.7%
↑ +26.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +19.6%

Homes in New Brighton are 6% less expensive than Johnston

Calculate payment - JohnstonCalculate payment - New Brighton

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

New Brighton, 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%

New Brighton, 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
New Brighton
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 New Brighton, 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 New Brighton, 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 New Brighton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Johnston, IA vs New Brighton, MN

How do the cost estimates for Johnston, IA and New Brighton, MN compare?

New Brighton, MN has a modeled overall cost index 17.8% 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 $164,121 in New Brighton, 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 New Brighton, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,510/month in Johnston, IA and $1,570/month in New Brighton, 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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