Le Center, MN vs Center Point, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Center Point, IA has a modeled overall cost index 15.8% lower than Le Center, MN.

Le Center, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,120 / month
Center Point, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,180 / 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 Le Center, MN and Center Point, IA 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 Le Center, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,058/month in Center Point, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,303 in Center Point, IA

Regional cost estimates: Le Center, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Center Point, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 15.8%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,058

Savings

Annual Impact

$12.7K

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.

Le Center, MN

Population:3K

Cost Index:

93.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$304K

Center Point, IA

Population:3K

Cost Index:

78.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$306K

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Le Center, MN

The North Star State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Center Point, IA

The Hawkeye State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Le Center, MN vs Center Point, IA

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	Le Center, MN	Center Point, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,325/mo	$1,740/mo	↓ $585less	25.2%
Other	$1,633/mo	$1,494/mo	↓ $139less	8.5%
Groceries	$1,020/mo	$905/mo	↓ $114less	11.2%
Transportation	$1,270/mo	$1,156/mo	↓ $114less	9.0%
Healthcare	$749/mo	$679/mo	↓ $70.22less	9.4%
All Utilities	$503/mo	$468/mo	↓ $35.52less	7.1%

Housing

↓ 25.2%

Le Center, MN

$2,325

Center Point, IA

$1,740

Difference

$585

less

Other

↓ 8.5%

Le Center, MN

$1,633

Center Point, IA

$1,494

Difference

$139

less

Groceries

↓ 11.2%

Le Center, MN

$1,020

Center Point, IA

$905

Difference

$114

less

Transportation

↓ 9.0%

Le Center, MN

$1,270

Center Point, IA

$1,156

Difference

$114

less

Healthcare

↓ 9.4%

Le Center, MN

$749

Center Point, IA

$679

Difference

$70.22

less

All Utilities

↓ 7.1%

Le Center, MN

$503

Center Point, IA

$468

Difference

$35.52

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$850

To$820

↓ $30.00

1 Bed

From$850

To$900

↑ $50.00

2 Bed

From$1,120

To$1,180

↑ $60.00

3 Bed

From$1,560

To$1,630

↑ $70.00

Le Center, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/mo

Center Point, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $900–$900/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 Le Center, MN

$6,442

Monthly in Center Point, IA

$1,058

Difference

Home Values

Le Center

Center Point

$304K

Median Value

$306K

↑ +1.9%

YoY Change

↑ +4.6%

↑ +37.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +32.6%

Calculate payment - Le Center Calculate payment - Center Point

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $272

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$22.70

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.2%

Rate difference

Le Center, 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

Center Point, 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

Additional Tax Information

Le Center, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

Center Point, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Le Center

Center Point

42 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

66.4%

Good Air Days

67.5%

98 High

Climate Risk

92 Moderate

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌡☀🌪

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

Before moving from Le Center, MN to Center Point, IA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Le Center, MN vs Center Point, IA

How do the cost estimates for Le Center, MN and Center Point, IA compare?

Center Point, IA has a modeled overall cost index 15.8% lower than Le Center, MN. 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 Le Center, MN, the model estimates $137,303 in Center Point, IA. 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 Le Center, MN and Center Point, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,120/month in Le Center, MN and $1,180/month in Center Point, IA. 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 Minnesota and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com