Montpelier, IN vs Mount Ayr, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mount Ayr, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.0% higher than Montpelier, IN.

Montpelier, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / month
Mount Ayr, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / 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 Montpelier, IN and Mount Ayr, 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 extra cost: $267/month in Mount Ayr, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,205 in Mount Ayr, IA

Regional cost estimates: Montpelier, IN uses Fort Wayne, IN. Mount Ayr, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 4.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$267
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.2K
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.

Montpelier, IN

Population:2K
Cost Index:
75.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$134K

Mount Ayr, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
78.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$133K

Planning the move to Mount Ayr?

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Montpelier, IN

The Hoosier State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Mount Ayr, 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: Montpelier, IN vs Mount Ayr, 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
↑ 9.6%
Montpelier, IN
$1,913
Mount Ayr, IA
$2,097
Difference
$184
more
Healthcare
↑ 14.6%
Montpelier, IN
$714
Mount Ayr, IA
$818
Difference
$104
more
Other
↑ 3.5%
Montpelier, IN
$1,741
Mount Ayr, IA
$1,801
Difference
$60.60
more
All Utilities
↓ 8.4%
Montpelier, IN
$616
Mount Ayr, IA
$564
Difference
$52.03
less
Groceries
↓ 3.1%
Montpelier, IN
$1,127
Mount Ayr, IA
$1,092
Difference
$35.14
less
Transportation
↑ 0.3%
Montpelier, IN
$1,389
Mount Ayr, IA
$1,393
Difference
$4.81
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$710
To$680
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$780
To$750
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$980
To$920
↓ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,130
↓ $150
Montpelier, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Mount Ayr, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/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 Montpelier, IN
$7,767
Monthly in Mount Ayr, IA
$267
Difference

Home Values

Montpelier
Mount Ayr
$134K
Median Value
$133K
↑ +3.3%
YoY Change
↑ +6.4%
↑ +53.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +18.7%

Homes in Mount Ayr are 1% less expensive than Montpelier

Calculate payment - MontpelierCalculate payment - Mount Ayr

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $5.9K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$488
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.9%
Rate difference

Montpelier, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Mount Ayr, 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

Montpelier, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Mount Ayr, 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

Montpelier
Mount Ayr
45 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
62.6%
Good Air Days
67.5%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Montpelier, IN to Mount Ayr, 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 Mount Ayr, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Montpelier, IN. 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 Montpelier to Mount Ayr moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Montpelier, IN vs Mount Ayr, IA

How do the cost estimates for Montpelier, IN and Mount Ayr, IA compare?

Mount Ayr, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.0% higher than Montpelier, IN. 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 Montpelier, IN, the model estimates $153,205 in Mount Ayr, 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 Montpelier, IN and Mount Ayr, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Montpelier, IN and $920/month in Mount Ayr, 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 Indiana and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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