Mountain Grove, MO vs Humboldt, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Humboldt, IA has a modeled overall cost index 10.2% higher than Mountain Grove, MO.

Mountain Grove, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,050 / month
Humboldt, 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 Mountain Grove, MO and Humboldt, 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: $726/month in Humboldt, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $158,710 in Humboldt, IA

Regional cost estimates: Mountain Grove, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Humboldt, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 10.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$726
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$8.7K
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.

Mountain Grove, MO

Population:5K
Cost Index:
72.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$192K

Humboldt, IA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
79.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$181K

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Mountain Grove, MO

The Show-Me State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Humboldt, IA

The Hawkeye State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mountain Grove, MO vs Humboldt, 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
↑ 18.4%
Mountain Grove, MO
$1,880
Humboldt, IA
$2,226
Difference
$345
more
Healthcare
↑ 33.6%
Mountain Grove, MO
$646
Humboldt, IA
$863
Difference
$217
more
Transportation
↑ 8.9%
Mountain Grove, MO
$1,357
Humboldt, IA
$1,479
Difference
$121
more
Other
↑ 6.5%
Mountain Grove, MO
$1,794
Humboldt, IA
$1,912
Difference
$117
more
All Utilities
↓ 9.4%
Mountain Grove, MO
$657
Humboldt, IA
$595
Difference
$61.91
less
Groceries
↓ 1.1%
Mountain Grove, MO
$1,165
Humboldt, IA
$1,152
Difference
$13.16
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$770
To$680
↓ $90.00
1 Bed
From$800
To$800
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,050
To$920
↓ $130
3 Bed
From$1,450
To$1,280
↓ $170
Mountain Grove, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Humboldt, 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 Mountain Grove, MO
$8,226
Monthly in Humboldt, IA
$726
Difference

Home Values

Mountain Grove
Humboldt
$192K
Median Value
$181K
↓ -5.3%
YoY Change
↑ +8.3%
↑ +37.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +28.8%

Homes in Humboldt are 6% less expensive than Mountain Grove

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.8K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$231
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.8%
Rate difference

Mountain Grove, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Humboldt, 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

Mountain Grove, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Humboldt, 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

Mountain Grove
Humboldt
54 Moderate
Air Quality
45 Good
38%
Good Air Days
67.5%
99 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Mountain Grove, MO to Humboldt, 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 Humboldt, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mountain Grove, MO. 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 Mountain Grove to Humboldt moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mountain Grove, MO vs Humboldt, IA

How do the cost estimates for Mountain Grove, MO and Humboldt, IA compare?

Humboldt, IA has a modeled overall cost index 10.2% higher than Mountain Grove, MO. 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 Mountain Grove, MO, the model estimates $158,710 in Humboldt, 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 Mountain Grove, MO and Humboldt, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,050/month in Mountain Grove, MO and $920/month in Humboldt, 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 Missouri and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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