Northfield, MN vs Johnston, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Johnston, IA has a modeled overall cost index 12.7% lower than Northfield, MN.

Northfield, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,520 / month
Johnston, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,510 / 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 Northfield, MN and Johnston, 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

Current salary in Northfield, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $897/month in Johnston, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $139,239 in Johnston, IA

Regional cost estimates: Northfield, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Johnston, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 12.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$897

Savings

Annual Impact

$10.8K

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.

Northfield, MN

Population:21K

Cost Index:

98.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$374K

Johnston, IA

Population:25K

Cost Index:

85.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$388K

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Northfield, MN

The North Star State

21K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 21K residents.

Johnston, IA

The Hawkeye State

25K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 25K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Northfield, MN vs Johnston, 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.

Category	Northfield, MN	Johnston, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,307/mo	$1,808/mo	↓ $499less	21.6%
Groceries	$1,009/mo	$900/mo	↓ $109less	10.8%
Transportation	$1,309/mo	$1,201/mo	↓ $107less	8.2%
Other	$1,635/mo	$1,553/mo	↓ $82.13less	5.0%
Healthcare	$741/mo	$675/mo	↓ $66.59less	9.0%
All Utilities	$498/mo	$465/mo	↓ $33.15less	6.7%

Housing

↓ 21.6%

Northfield, MN

$2,307

Johnston, IA

$1,808

Difference

$499

less

Groceries

↓ 10.8%

Northfield, MN

$1,009

Johnston, IA

$900

Difference

$109

less

Transportation

↓ 8.2%

Northfield, MN

$1,309

Johnston, IA

$1,201

Difference

$107

less

Other

↓ 5.0%

Northfield, MN

$1,635

Johnston, IA

$1,553

Difference

$82.13

less

Healthcare

↓ 9.0%

Northfield, MN

$741

Johnston, IA

$675

Difference

$66.59

less

All Utilities

↓ 6.7%

Northfield, MN

$498

Johnston, IA

$465

Difference

$33.15

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,100

To$1,220

↑ $120

1 Bed

From$1,250

To$1,270

↑ $20.00

2 Bed

From$1,520

To$1,510

↓ $10.00

3 Bed

From$2,020

To$2,060

↑ $40.00

Northfield, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,250–$1,250/mo

Johnston, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,270–$1,270/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 Northfield, MN

$6,603

Monthly in Johnston, IA

$897

Difference

Home Values

Northfield

Johnston

$374K

Median Value

$388K

↑ +2.9%

YoY Change

↑ +0.6%

↑ +27.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +26.6%

Homes in Johnston are 4% more expensive than Northfield

Calculate payment - Northfield Calculate payment - Johnston

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

Northfield, 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

Johnston, 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

Northfield, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

Johnston, 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

Northfield

Johnston

36 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

72.4%

Good Air Days

67.5%

95 High

Climate Risk

92 Moderate

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌡☀🌪

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

Before moving from Northfield, MN to Johnston, IA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Johnston, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Northfield, MN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Northfield to Johnston moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Northfield, MN vs Johnston, IA

How do the cost estimates for Northfield, MN and Johnston, IA compare?

Johnston, IA has a modeled overall cost index 12.7% lower than Northfield, 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 Northfield, MN, the model estimates $139,239 in Johnston, 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 Northfield, MN and Johnston, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,520/month in Northfield, MN and $1,510/month in Johnston, 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