Mountain Lake, MN vs Ida Grove, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Ida Grove, IA has a modeled overall cost index 6.9% lower than Mountain Lake, MN.

Mountain Lake, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / month
Ida Grove, 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 Lake, MN and Ida Grove, 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 savings: $469/month in Ida Grove, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,370 in Ida Grove, IA

Regional cost estimates: Mountain Lake, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Ida Grove, IA uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 6.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$469
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.6K
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 Lake, MN

Population:2K
Cost Index:
81.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$151K

Ida Grove, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
76.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$144K

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Mountain Lake, MN

The North Star State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Ida Grove, 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: Mountain Lake, MN vs Ida Grove, 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
↓ 17.2%
Mountain Lake, MN
$2,278
Ida Grove, IA
$1,886
Difference
$391
less
Healthcare
↓ 5.2%
Mountain Lake, MN
$784
Ida Grove, IA
$743
Difference
$41.14
less
Groceries
↓ 3.1%
Mountain Lake, MN
$1,067
Ida Grove, IA
$1,035
Difference
$32.80
less
Other
↑ 1.1%
Mountain Lake, MN
$1,600
Ida Grove, IA
$1,617
Difference
$16.97
more
All Utilities
↓ 2.8%
Mountain Lake, MN
$527
Ida Grove, IA
$512
Difference
$14.87
less
Transportation
↓ 0.5%
Mountain Lake, MN
$1,244
Ida Grove, IA
$1,238
Difference
$6.18
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$680
→ $0
1 Bed
From$770
To$760
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$980
To$920
↓ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,360
To$1,100
↓ $260
Mountain Lake, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/mo

Ida Grove, IAZIP-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 Mountain Lake, MN
$7,031
Monthly in Ida Grove, IA
$469
Difference

Home Values

Mountain Lake
Ida Grove
$151K
Median Value
$144K
↑ +1.4%
YoY Change
↑ +6.8%
↑ +39.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +36.2%

Homes in Ida Grove are 5% less expensive than Mountain Lake

Calculate payment - Mountain LakeCalculate payment - Ida Grove

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $272
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$22.70
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Mountain Lake, 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

Ida Grove, 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 Lake, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Ida Grove, 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 Lake
Ida Grove
42 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
66.4%
Good Air Days
63.7%
98 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mountain Lake, MN vs Ida Grove, IA

How do the cost estimates for Mountain Lake, MN and Ida Grove, IA compare?

Ida Grove, IA has a modeled overall cost index 6.9% lower than Mountain Lake, MN. 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 Lake, MN, the model estimates $144,370 in Ida Grove, 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 Lake, MN and Ida Grove, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Mountain Lake, MN and $920/month in Ida Grove, 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 Minnesota and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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