Mount Vernon, IA vs Sauk Centre, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Sauk Centre, MN has a modeled overall cost index 8.3% higher than Mount Vernon, IA.

Mount Vernon, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month
Sauk Centre, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / 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 Vernon, IA and Sauk Centre, MN 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: $573/month in Sauk Centre, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,880 in Sauk Centre, MN

Regional cost estimates: Mount Vernon, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Sauk Centre, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 8.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$573
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.9K
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 Vernon, IA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
79.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$334K

Sauk Centre, MN

Population:5K
Cost Index:
85.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$310K

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Mount Vernon, IA

The Hawkeye State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Sauk Centre, MN

The North Star State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mount Vernon, IA vs Sauk Centre, MN

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
↑ 21.8%
Mount Vernon, IA
$2,029
Sauk Centre, MN
$2,471
Difference
$442
more
Groceries
↑ 7.5%
Mount Vernon, IA
$1,050
Sauk Centre, MN
$1,129
Difference
$78.89
more
Healthcare
↑ 5.3%
Mount Vernon, IA
$787
Sauk Centre, MN
$829
Difference
$42.10
more
All Utilities
↑ 2.7%
Mount Vernon, IA
$543
Sauk Centre, MN
$557
Difference
$14.75
more
Other
↓ 0.4%
Mount Vernon, IA
$1,743
Sauk Centre, MN
$1,736
Difference
$6.60
less
Transportation
↑ 0.1%
Mount Vernon, IA
$1,348
Sauk Centre, MN
$1,350
Difference
$1.86
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$740
To$780
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$830
To$800
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,000
To$1,040
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,400
To$1,360
↓ $40.00
Mount Vernon, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/mo

Sauk Centre, MNZIP-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 Mount Vernon, IA
$8,073
Monthly in Sauk Centre, MN
$573
Difference

Home Values

Mount Vernon
Sauk Centre
$334K
Median Value
$310K
↑ +2.9%
YoY Change
↑ +2.4%
↑ +33.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +40.3%

Homes in Sauk Centre are 7% less expensive than Mount Vernon

Calculate payment - Mount VernonCalculate payment - Sauk Centre

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $272
Per year
Monthly Difference
$22.70
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Mount Vernon, 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

Sauk Centre, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Additional Tax Information

Mount Vernon, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Sauk Centre, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 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 Vernon
Sauk Centre
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
66.4%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Mount Vernon, IA to Sauk Centre, MN

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

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

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Sauk Centre, MN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mount Vernon, IA vs Sauk Centre, MN

How do the cost estimates for Mount Vernon, IA and Sauk Centre, MN compare?

Sauk Centre, MN has a modeled overall cost index 8.3% higher than Mount Vernon, 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 Vernon, IA, the model estimates $156,880 in Sauk Centre, MN. 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 Vernon, IA and Sauk Centre, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,000/month in Mount Vernon, IA and $1,040/month in Sauk Centre, MN. 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 Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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