Johnston, IA vs Rocky River, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rocky River, OH has a modeled overall cost index 10.4% lower than Johnston, IA.

Johnston, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,510 / month
Rocky River, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,410 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Johnston, IA and Rocky River, OH 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 savings: $543/month in Rocky River, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,481 in Rocky River, OH

Regional cost estimates: Johnston, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Rocky River, OH uses Cleveland, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 10.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$543
Savings
Annual Impact
$6.5K
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

Rocky River, OH

Population:21K
Cost Index:
76.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$377K

Planning the move to Rocky River?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Johnston, IA

The Hawkeye State

25K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Rocky River, OH

The Buckeye State

21K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 21K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Johnston, IA vs Rocky River, OH

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
↓ 21.3%
Johnston, IA
$2,054
Rocky River, OH
$1,616
Difference
$438
less
Healthcare
↓ 23.4%
Johnston, IA
$766
Rocky River, OH
$587
Difference
$179
less
Transportation
↑ 8.1%
Johnston, IA
$1,365
Rocky River, OH
$1,475
Difference
$110
more
Other
↓ 4.7%
Johnston, IA
$1,764
Rocky River, OH
$1,681
Difference
$83.64
less
Groceries
↑ 5.7%
Johnston, IA
$1,023
Rocky River, OH
$1,081
Difference
$58.29
more
All Utilities
↓ 2.0%
Johnston, IA
$528
Rocky River, OH
$518
Difference
$10.52
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,220
To$1,030
↓ $190
1 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,170
↓ $100
2 Bed
From$1,510
To$1,410
↓ $100
3 Bed
From$2,060
To$1,810
↓ $250
Johnston, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,270–$1,270/mo

Rocky River, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,170–$1,170/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
$6,957
Monthly in Rocky River, OH
$543
Difference

Home Values

Johnston
Rocky River
$388K
Median Value
$377K
↑ +0.6%
YoY Change
↑ +6.5%
↑ +26.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +41.8%

Homes in Rocky River are 3% less expensive than Johnston

Calculate payment - JohnstonCalculate payment - Rocky River

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $6.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$523
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.2%
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

Rocky River, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Johnston, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Rocky River, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 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
Rocky River
45 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
67.5%
Good Air Days
37.2%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days

Before moving from Johnston, IA to Rocky River, OH

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Rocky River, OH 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 Rocky River moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Johnston, IA vs Rocky River, OH

How do the cost estimates for Johnston, IA and Rocky River, OH compare?

Rocky River, OH has a modeled overall cost index 10.4% lower 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 $143,481 in Rocky River, OH. 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 Rocky River, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,510/month in Johnston, IA and $1,410/month in Rocky River, OH. 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 Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Rocky River, OH

Other cities in a similar price range

Indianapolis, INPittsburgh, PASt. Louis, MO

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison