Madison Lake, MN vs Van Meter, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Van Meter, IA has a modeled overall cost index 9.4% lower than Madison Lake, MN.

Madison Lake, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,180 / month
Van Meter, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,100 / 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 Madison Lake, MN and Van Meter, 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

$
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Estimated savings: $643/month in Van Meter, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,278 in Van Meter, IA

Regional cost estimates: Madison Lake, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Van Meter, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 9.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$643
Savings
Annual Impact
$7.7K
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.

Madison Lake, MN

Population:1K
Cost Index:
88.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$423K

Van Meter, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
80.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$399K

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Madison Lake, MN

The North Star State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Van Meter, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Madison Lake, MN vs Van Meter, 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.

Housing
↓ 19.4%
Madison Lake, MN
$2,308
Van Meter, IA
$1,860
Difference
$449
less
Groceries
↓ 7.9%
Madison Lake, MN
$1,037
Van Meter, IA
$955
Difference
$81.50
less
Healthcare
↓ 6.0%
Madison Lake, MN
$761
Van Meter, IA
$716
Difference
$45.45
less
Transportation
↓ 2.0%
Madison Lake, MN
$1,261
Van Meter, IA
$1,235
Difference
$25.33
less
Other
↓ 1.5%
Madison Lake, MN
$1,621
Van Meter, IA
$1,597
Difference
$24.34
less
All Utilities
↓ 3.6%
Madison Lake, MN
$512
Van Meter, IA
$494
Difference
$18.23
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$920
To$890
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$930
To$930
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,180
To$1,100
↓ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,630
To$1,500
↓ $130
Madison Lake, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/mo

Van Meter, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/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 Madison Lake, MN
$6,857
Monthly in Van Meter, IA
$643
Difference

Home Values

Madison Lake
Van Meter
$423K
Median Value
$399K
↑ +4.6%
YoY Change
↑ +1.3%
↑ +38%
5-Year Change
↑ +35.8%

Homes in Van Meter are 5% less expensive than Madison Lake

Calculate payment - Madison LakeCalculate payment - Van Meter

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

Madison Lake, 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

Van Meter, 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

Madison Lake, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Van Meter, 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

Madison Lake
Van Meter
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 Madison Lake, MN to Van Meter, IA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Van Meter, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Madison Lake, MN. 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 Madison Lake to Van Meter moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Madison Lake, MN vs Van Meter, IA

How do the cost estimates for Madison Lake, MN and Van Meter, IA compare?

Van Meter, IA has a modeled overall cost index 9.4% lower than Madison Lake, 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 Madison Lake, MN, the model estimates $142,278 in Van Meter, 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 Madison Lake, MN and Van Meter, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,180/month in Madison Lake, MN and $1,100/month in Van Meter, 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

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Madison Lake, MN on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $56.88/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $27.02/mo

Similar cost to Van Meter, IA

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