Marshalltown, IA vs Austin, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Austin, MN has a modeled overall cost index 8.2% higher than Marshalltown, IA.

Marshalltown, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / month
Austin, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / 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 Marshalltown, IA and Austin, MN 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: $618/month in Austin, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,413 in Austin, MN

Regional cost estimates: Marshalltown, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Austin, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 8.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$618
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$7.4K
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.

Marshalltown, IA

Population:28K
Cost Index:
85.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$167K

Austin, MN

Population:26K
Cost Index:
92.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$181K

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Marshalltown, IA

The Hawkeye State

28K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 28K residents.

Austin, MN

The North Star State

26K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Marshalltown, IA vs Austin, MN

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
↑ 20.5%
Marshalltown, IA
$2,054
Austin, MN
$2,476
Difference
$422
more
Groceries
↑ 9.0%
Marshalltown, IA
$1,022
Austin, MN
$1,114
Difference
$91.87
more
Healthcare
↑ 6.8%
Marshalltown, IA
$766
Austin, MN
$818
Difference
$52.05
more
Transportation
↑ 2.9%
Marshalltown, IA
$1,365
Austin, MN
$1,404
Difference
$39.61
more
All Utilities
↑ 4.1%
Marshalltown, IA
$528
Austin, MN
$550
Difference
$21.80
more
Other
↓ 0.5%
Marshalltown, IA
$1,764
Austin, MN
$1,755
Difference
$9.27
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$710
To$740
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$730
To$820
↑ $90.00
2 Bed
From$960
To$1,070
↑ $110
3 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,380
↑ $110
Marshalltown, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$730/mo

Austin, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$820/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 Marshalltown, IA
$8,118
Monthly in Austin, MN
$618
Difference

Home Values

Marshalltown
Austin
$167K
Median Value
$181K
↑ +3.9%
YoY Change
↑ +5.3%
↑ +32.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +41.6%

Homes in Austin are 8% more expensive than Marshalltown

Calculate payment - MarshalltownCalculate payment - Austin

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $272
Per year
Monthly Difference
$22.70
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Marshalltown, 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

Austin, 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

Additional Tax Information

Marshalltown, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Austin, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 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

Marshalltown
Austin
45 Good
Air Quality
36 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
72.4%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
95 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Marshalltown, IA to Austin, MN

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Marshalltown, IA vs Austin, MN

How do the cost estimates for Marshalltown, IA and Austin, MN compare?

Austin, MN has a modeled overall cost index 8.2% higher than Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, IA, the model estimates $157,413 in Austin, MN. 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 Marshalltown, IA and Austin, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $960/month in Marshalltown, IA and $1,070/month in Austin, MN. 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 Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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