Miller, SD vs Nora Springs, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Nora Springs, IA has a modeled overall cost index 18.0% higher than Miller, SD.

Miller, SD · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / month
Nora Springs, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / 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 Miller, SD and Nora Springs, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,080/month in Nora Springs, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,955 in Nora Springs, IA

Regional cost estimates: Miller, SD uses Omaha, NE. Nora Springs, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 18.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,080
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$13.0K
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.

Miller, SD

Population:1K
Cost Index:
62.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$174K

Nora Springs, IA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
73.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$178K

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Miller, SD

The Mount Rushmore State

1K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

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

💡 Advantage: South Dakota has no state income tax!

Nora Springs, IA

The Hawkeye State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Miller, SD vs Nora Springs, 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
↑ 17.8%
Miller, SD
$1,945
Nora Springs, IA
$2,292
Difference
$346
more
Other
↑ 18.0%
Miller, SD
$1,667
Nora Springs, IA
$1,968
Difference
$301
more
Transportation
↑ 19.3%
Miller, SD
$1,276
Nora Springs, IA
$1,523
Difference
$246
more
Healthcare
↑ 9.2%
Miller, SD
$847
Nora Springs, IA
$925
Difference
$78.04
more
Groceries
↑ 4.6%
Miller, SD
$1,180
Nora Springs, IA
$1,234
Difference
$54.45
more
All Utilities
↑ 9.2%
Miller, SD
$584
Nora Springs, IA
$638
Difference
$53.81
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$670
To$770
↑ $100
1 Bed
From$790
To$790
→ $0
2 Bed
From$980
To$1,020
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,320
↑ $30.00
Miller, SDZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/mo

Nora Springs, IAZIP-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 Miller, SD
$8,580
Monthly in Nora Springs, IA
$1,080
Difference

Home Values

Miller
Nora Springs
$174K
Median Value
$178K
↓ -2.5%
YoY Change
↑ +5.5%
↑ +18.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +36.6%

Homes in Nora Springs are 2% more expensive than Miller

Calculate payment - MillerCalculate payment - Nora Springs

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $10.7K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$892
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
7.1%
Rate difference

Miller, SD

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Dakota State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Nora Springs, 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

Miller, SD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.4%
Property Tax:1.3%

Nora Springs, 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

Miller
Nora Springs
45 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
67.5%
96 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Miller, SD to Nora Springs, 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 Nora Springs, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Miller, SD. 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 Miller to Nora Springs moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Miller, SD vs Nora Springs, IA

How do the cost estimates for Miller, SD and Nora Springs, IA compare?

Nora Springs, IA has a modeled overall cost index 18.0% higher than Miller, SD. 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 Miller, SD, the model estimates $162,955 in Nora Springs, 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 Miller, SD and Nora Springs, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Miller, SD and $1,020/month in Nora Springs, 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 South Dakota and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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