Lake Mills, IA vs Kimball, NE: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Kimball, NE has a modeled overall cost index 2.5% lower than Lake Mills, IA.

Lake Mills, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Kimball, NE · 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 Lake Mills, IA and Kimball, NE 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: $23.15/month in Kimball, NE

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,278 in Kimball, NE

Regional cost estimates: Lake Mills, IA uses Minneapolis, MN. Kimball, NE uses Denver, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 2.5%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$23.15
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$278
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.

Lake Mills, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
77.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$160K

Kimball, NE

Population:2K
Cost Index:
75.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$157K

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Lake Mills, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Kimball, NE

The Cornhusker State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Nebraska, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lake Mills, IA vs Kimball, NE

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
↑ 10.8%
Lake Mills, IA
$2,258
Kimball, NE
$2,501
Difference
$243
more
Healthcare
↓ 18.2%
Lake Mills, IA
$798
Kimball, NE
$653
Difference
$145
less
Other
↓ 4.3%
Lake Mills, IA
$1,586
Kimball, NE
$1,518
Difference
$68.06
less
Groceries
↓ 2.2%
Lake Mills, IA
$1,087
Kimball, NE
$1,064
Difference
$23.58
less
Transportation
↑ 1.4%
Lake Mills, IA
$1,233
Kimball, NE
$1,251
Difference
$17.21
more
All Utilities
↓ 0.1%
Lake Mills, IA
$537
Kimball, NE
$536
Difference
$0.35
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$710
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$730
To$730
→ $0
2 Bed
From$920
To$960
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,280
↑ $50.00
Lake Mills, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$730/mo

Kimball, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$730/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 Lake Mills, IA
$7,523
Monthly in Kimball, NE
$23.15
Difference

Home Values

Lake Mills
Kimball
$160K
Median Value
$157K
↑ +9%
YoY Change
↑ +5.2%
↑ +28.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +45.1%

Homes in Kimball are 2% less expensive than Lake Mills

Calculate payment - Lake MillsCalculate payment - Kimball

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$114
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Lake Mills, 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

Kimball, NE

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Nebraska State Tax
Effective: 6.2%
$9.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.9%
$46.3K
Take-Home Pay
$8,638/month
$103.7K

Additional Tax Information

Lake Mills, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Kimball, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Lake Mills
Kimball
42 Good
Air Quality
55 Moderate
66.4%
Good Air Days
35.2%
98 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days

Before moving from Lake Mills, IA to Kimball, NE

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Kimball, NE for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lake Mills, 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 Lake Mills to Kimball moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lake Mills, IA vs Kimball, NE

How do the cost estimates for Lake Mills, IA and Kimball, NE compare?

Kimball, NE has a modeled overall cost index 2.5% lower than Lake Mills, 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 Lake Mills, IA, the model estimates $150,278 in Kimball, NE. 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 Lake Mills, IA and Kimball, NE?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Lake Mills, IA and $960/month in Kimball, NE. 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 Nebraska on TaxTakeHome.com

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