Marengo, IA vs Noel, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Noel, MO has a modeled overall cost index 6.7% lower than Marengo, IA.

Marengo, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$930 / month
Noel, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$900 / 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 Marengo, IA and Noel, MO 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: $480/month in Noel, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,237 in Noel, MO

Regional cost estimates: Marengo, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Noel, MO uses Tulsa, OK. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 6.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$480
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.8K
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.

Marengo, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
79.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$181K

Noel, MO

Population:2K
Cost Index:
74.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$187K

Planning the move to Noel?

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

Marengo, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Noel, MO

The Show-Me State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Marengo, IA vs Noel, MO

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
↓ 12.0%
Marengo, IA
$2,031
Noel, MO
$1,788
Difference
$243
less
Healthcare
↓ 24.1%
Marengo, IA
$786
Noel, MO
$596
Difference
$189
less
Transportation
↓ 3.5%
Marengo, IA
$1,349
Noel, MO
$1,302
Difference
$47.41
less
Groceries
↓ 1.8%
Marengo, IA
$1,048
Noel, MO
$1,029
Difference
$18.58
less
All Utilities
↑ 1.7%
Marengo, IA
$542
Noel, MO
$551
Difference
$8.96
more
Other
↑ 0.5%
Marengo, IA
$1,744
Noel, MO
$1,753
Difference
$8.84
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$690
To$680
↓ $10.00
1 Bed
From$720
To$690
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$930
To$900
↓ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,250
↓ $40.00
Marengo, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/mo

Noel, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $690–$690/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 Marengo, IA
$7,020
Monthly in Noel, MO
$480
Difference

Home Values

Marengo
Noel
$181K
Median Value
$187K
↑ +0.6%
YoY Change
↑ +3.8%
↑ +33.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +30.5%

Homes in Noel are 4% more expensive than Marengo

Calculate payment - MarengoCalculate payment - Noel

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.8K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$231
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.8%
Rate difference

Marengo, 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

Noel, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

Marengo, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Noel, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 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

Marengo
Noel
45 Good
Air Quality
51 Moderate
67.5%
Good Air Days
48.4%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days

Before moving from Marengo, IA to Noel, MO

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Noel, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Marengo, 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 Marengo to Noel moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Marengo, IA vs Noel, MO

How do the cost estimates for Marengo, IA and Noel, MO compare?

Noel, MO has a modeled overall cost index 6.7% lower than Marengo, 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 Marengo, IA, the model estimates $144,237 in Noel, MO. 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 Marengo, IA and Noel, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $930/month in Marengo, IA and $900/month in Noel, MO. 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 Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison