Mason City, IA vs Alliance, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Alliance, OH has a modeled overall cost index 2.9% lower than Mason City, IA.

Mason City, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Alliance, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,010 / 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 Mason City, IA and Alliance, OH 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: $56.44/month in Alliance, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,323 in Alliance, OH

Regional cost estimates: Mason City, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Alliance, OH uses Cleveland, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 2.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$56.44
Savings
Annual Impact
$677
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.

Mason City, IA

Population:27K
Cost Index:
82.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$150K

Alliance, OH

Population:22K
Cost Index:
80.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$153K

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Mason City, IA

The Hawkeye State

27K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 27K residents.

Alliance, OH

The Buckeye State

22K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 22K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mason City, IA vs Alliance, OH

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
↓ 14.8%
Mason City, IA
$2,043
Alliance, OH
$1,741
Difference
$302
less
Transportation
↑ 17.1%
Mason City, IA
$1,357
Alliance, OH
$1,589
Difference
$232
more
Healthcare
↓ 20.2%
Mason City, IA
$776
Alliance, OH
$619
Difference
$157
less
Groceries
↑ 10.0%
Mason City, IA
$1,035
Alliance, OH
$1,139
Difference
$104
more
Other
↑ 3.2%
Mason City, IA
$1,755
Alliance, OH
$1,811
Difference
$56.22
more
All Utilities
↑ 2.0%
Mason City, IA
$535
Alliance, OH
$546
Difference
$10.78
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$760
To$700
↓ $60.00
1 Bed
From$770
To$790
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$970
To$1,010
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,250
To$1,280
↑ $30.00
Mason City, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/mo

Alliance, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/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 Mason City, IA
$7,444
Monthly in Alliance, OH
$56.44
Difference

Home Values

Mason City
Alliance
$150K
Median Value
$153K
↑ +3.2%
YoY Change
↑ +3%
↑ +34.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +38.8%

Homes in Alliance are 2% more expensive than Mason City

Calculate payment - Mason CityCalculate payment - Alliance

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $6.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$523
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.2%
Rate difference

Mason City, 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

Alliance, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Mason City, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Alliance, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 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

Mason City
Alliance
45 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
67.5%
Good Air Days
37.2%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days

Before moving from Mason City, IA to Alliance, OH

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Alliance, OH for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mason City, 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 Mason City to Alliance moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mason City, IA vs Alliance, OH

How do the cost estimates for Mason City, IA and Alliance, OH compare?

Alliance, OH has a modeled overall cost index 2.9% lower than Mason City, 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 Mason City, IA, the model estimates $149,323 in Alliance, OH. 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 Mason City, IA and Alliance, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Mason City, IA and $1,010/month in Alliance, OH. 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 Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

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