Osage, IA vs Central City, NE: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Central City, NE has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% higher than Osage, IA.

Osage, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Central City, NE · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / 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 Osage, IA and Central City, NE 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: $51.49/month in Central City, NE

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,618 in Central City, NE

Regional cost estimates: Osage, IA uses Saint Paul, MN. Central City, NE uses Lincoln, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$51.49
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$618
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.

Osage, IA

Population:4K
Cost Index:
78.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$195K

Central City, NE

Population:3K
Cost Index:
80.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$193K

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Osage, IA

The Hawkeye State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Central City, NE

The Cornhusker State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Nebraska, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Osage, IA vs Central City, NE

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
↓ 7.5%
Osage, IA
$2,228
Central City, NE
$2,061
Difference
$167
less
Other
↑ 8.4%
Osage, IA
$1,579
Central City, NE
$1,712
Difference
$133
more
Transportation
↑ 7.0%
Osage, IA
$1,264
Central City, NE
$1,352
Difference
$88.89
more
Healthcare
↓ 1.7%
Osage, IA
$801
Central City, NE
$787
Difference
$13.83
less
Groceries
↑ 0.5%
Osage, IA
$1,090
Central City, NE
$1,096
Difference
$5.77
more
All Utilities
↑ 0.8%
Osage, IA
$538
Central City, NE
$543
Difference
$4.26
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$690
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$770
To$730
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$960
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,160
To$1,320
↑ $160
Osage, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/mo

Central City, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$730/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 Osage, IA
$7,551
Monthly in Central City, NE
$51.49
Difference

Home Values

Osage
Central City
$195K
Median Value
$193K
↑ +6%
YoY Change
↑ +4.6%
↑ +47.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +38.9%

Homes in Central City are 1% less expensive than Osage

Calculate payment - OsageCalculate payment - Central City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$114
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Osage, 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

Central City, NE

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Nebraska State Tax
Effective: 6.2%
$9.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.9%
$46.3K
Take-Home Pay
$8,638/month
$103.7K

Additional Tax Information

Osage, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Central City, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Osage
Central City
36 Good
Air Quality
41 Good
72.4%
Good Air Days
83.7%
95 High
Climate Risk
91 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌪💨
▲+3.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
38 days
▲+3.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
38 days

Before moving from Osage, IA to Central City, NE

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Central City, NE for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Osage, 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 Osage to Central City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Central City, NE by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Osage, IA vs Central City, NE

How do the cost estimates for Osage, IA and Central City, NE compare?

Central City, NE has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% higher than Osage, 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 Osage, IA, the model estimates $150,618 in Central City, NE. 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 Osage, IA and Central City, NE?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Osage, IA and $960/month in Central City, NE. 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 Nebraska on TaxTakeHome.com

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