Montrose, MI vs Guthrie Center, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Guthrie Center, IA has a modeled overall cost index 2.1% higher than Montrose, MI.

Montrose, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$990 / month
Guthrie Center, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$950 / 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 Montrose, MI and Guthrie Center, 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: $56.59/month in Guthrie Center, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,679 in Guthrie Center, IA

Regional cost estimates: Montrose, MI uses Detroit, MI. Guthrie Center, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 2.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$56.59
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$679
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.

Montrose, MI

Population:2K
Cost Index:
78.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$198K

Guthrie Center, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
80.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$193K

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Montrose, MI

The Great Lakes State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Guthrie Center, 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: Montrose, MI vs Guthrie Center, 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
↑ 33.1%
Montrose, MI
$1,539
Guthrie Center, IA
$2,048
Difference
$509
more
Transportation
↓ 21.0%
Montrose, MI
$1,723
Guthrie Center, IA
$1,361
Difference
$362
less
Healthcare
↑ 20.8%
Montrose, MI
$654
Guthrie Center, IA
$790
Difference
$136
more
All Utilities
↓ 15.8%
Montrose, MI
$647
Guthrie Center, IA
$545
Difference
$102
less
Other
↓ 4.2%
Montrose, MI
$1,836
Guthrie Center, IA
$1,759
Difference
$76.80
less
Groceries
↓ 4.3%
Montrose, MI
$1,102
Guthrie Center, IA
$1,054
Difference
$47.39
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$690
To$770
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$800
To$800
→ $0
2 Bed
From$990
To$950
↓ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,290
↑ $60.00
Montrose, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Guthrie Center, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/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 Montrose, MI
$7,557
Monthly in Guthrie Center, IA
$56.59
Difference

Home Values

Montrose
Guthrie Center
$198K
Median Value
$193K
↑ +6.5%
YoY Change
↑ +5.8%
↑ +37.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +43.7%

Homes in Guthrie Center are 3% less expensive than Montrose

Calculate payment - MontroseCalculate payment - Guthrie Center

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $4.3K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$361
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.9%
Rate difference

Montrose, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Guthrie Center, 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

Montrose, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

Guthrie Center, 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

Montrose
Guthrie Center
55 Moderate
Air Quality
45 Good
32.8%
Good Air Days
67.5%
99 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Montrose, MI to Guthrie Center, 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 Guthrie Center, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Montrose, MI. 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 Montrose to Guthrie Center moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Montrose, MI vs Guthrie Center, IA

How do the cost estimates for Montrose, MI and Guthrie Center, IA compare?

Guthrie Center, IA has a modeled overall cost index 2.1% higher than Montrose, MI. 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 Montrose, MI, the model estimates $150,679 in Guthrie Center, 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 Montrose, MI and Guthrie Center, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $990/month in Montrose, MI and $950/month in Guthrie Center, 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 Michigan and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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