Mount Ayr, IA vs Hurley, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Hurley, WI has a modeled overall cost index 9.2% lower than Mount Ayr, IA.

Mount Ayr, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Hurley, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / 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 Mount Ayr, IA and Hurley, WI 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 savings: $489/month in Hurley, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,132 in Hurley, WI

Regional cost estimates: Mount Ayr, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Hurley, WI uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 9.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$489
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.9K
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.

Mount Ayr, IA

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

Hurley, WI

Population:2K
Cost Index:
71.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$136K

Planning the move to Hurley?

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Mount Ayr, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Hurley, WI

The Badger State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mount Ayr, IA vs Hurley, WI

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.

Other
↓ 16.5%
Mount Ayr, IA
$1,740
Hurley, WI
$1,453
Difference
$287
less
Transportation
↓ 13.6%
Mount Ayr, IA
$1,346
Hurley, WI
$1,162
Difference
$183
less
All Utilities
↓ 4.6%
Mount Ayr, IA
$545
Hurley, WI
$520
Difference
$25.02
less
Housing
↑ 1.2%
Mount Ayr, IA
$2,025
Hurley, WI
$2,049
Difference
$24.18
more
Healthcare
↓ 2.1%
Mount Ayr, IA
$790
Hurley, WI
$773
Difference
$16.97
less
Groceries
↓ 0.1%
Mount Ayr, IA
$1,054
Hurley, WI
$1,053
Difference
$1.45
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$690
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$750
To$760
↑ $10.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$970
↑ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,130
To$1,210
↑ $80.00
Mount Ayr, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/mo

Hurley, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/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 Mount Ayr, IA
$7,011
Monthly in Hurley, WI
$489
Difference

Home Values

Mount Ayr
Hurley
$133K
Median Value
$136K
↑ +6.4%
YoY Change
↓ -7.1%
↑ +18.7%
5-Year Change
↓ -0.2%

Homes in Hurley are 2% more expensive than Mount Ayr

Calculate payment - Mount AyrCalculate payment - Hurley

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$154
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.2%
Rate difference

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

Hurley, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Mount Ayr, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Hurley, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Mount Ayr
Hurley
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 Mount Ayr, IA to Hurley, WI

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Hurley, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mount Ayr, 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 Mount Ayr to Hurley moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mount Ayr, IA vs Hurley, WI

How do the cost estimates for Mount Ayr, IA and Hurley, WI compare?

Hurley, WI has a modeled overall cost index 9.2% lower than Mount Ayr, 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 Mount Ayr, IA, the model estimates $144,132 in Hurley, WI. 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 Mount Ayr, IA and Hurley, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Mount Ayr, IA and $970/month in Hurley, WI. 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 Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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