Nora Springs, IA vs Wathena, KS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Wathena, KS has a modeled overall cost index 6.8% higher than Nora Springs, IA.

Nora Springs, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / month
Wathena, KS · 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 Nora Springs, IA and Wathena, KS 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: $458/month in Wathena, KS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $155,495 in Wathena, KS

Regional cost estimates: Nora Springs, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Wathena, KS uses Kansas City, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$458
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$5.5K
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.

Nora Springs, IA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
73.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$178K

Wathena, KS

Population:1K
Cost Index:
78.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$180K

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Nora Springs, IA

The Hawkeye State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Wathena, KS

The Sunflower State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Nora Springs, IA vs Wathena, KS

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
↑ 8.1%
Nora Springs, IA
$2,003
Wathena, KS
$2,166
Difference
$163
more
Other
↑ 6.8%
Nora Springs, IA
$1,721
Wathena, KS
$1,837
Difference
$117
more
All Utilities
↑ 17.8%
Nora Springs, IA
$558
Wathena, KS
$657
Difference
$98.98
more
Groceries
↑ 7.9%
Nora Springs, IA
$1,079
Wathena, KS
$1,164
Difference
$84.97
more
Healthcare
↓ 7.9%
Nora Springs, IA
$809
Wathena, KS
$744
Difference
$64.20
less
Transportation
↑ 4.4%
Nora Springs, IA
$1,331
Wathena, KS
$1,390
Difference
$58.98
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$770
To$700
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$790
To$750
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$1,020
To$970
↓ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,230
↓ $90.00
Nora Springs, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/mo

Wathena, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/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 Nora Springs, IA
$7,958
Monthly in Wathena, KS
$458
Difference

Home Values

Nora Springs
Wathena
$178K
Median Value
$180K
↑ +5.5%
YoY Change
↑ +9.7%
↑ +36.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +47.5%

Homes in Wathena are 1% more expensive than Nora Springs

Calculate payment - Nora SpringsCalculate payment - Wathena

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$190
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.5%
Rate difference

Nora Springs, 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

Wathena, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Nora Springs, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Wathena, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

💡 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

Nora Springs
Wathena
45 Good
Air Quality
46 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
59.3%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
97 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
44 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
44 days

Before moving from Nora Springs, IA to Wathena, KS

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Wathena, KS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Nora Springs, 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 Nora Springs to Wathena moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Nora Springs, IA vs Wathena, KS

How do the cost estimates for Nora Springs, IA and Wathena, KS compare?

Wathena, KS has a modeled overall cost index 6.8% higher than Nora Springs, 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 Nora Springs, IA, the model estimates $155,495 in Wathena, KS. 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 Nora Springs, IA and Wathena, KS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,020/month in Nora Springs, IA and $970/month in Wathena, KS. 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 Kansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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