Paynesville, MN vs Center Point, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Center Point, IA has a modeled overall cost index 9.1% lower than Paynesville, MN.

Paynesville, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,110 / month
Center Point, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,180 / 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 Paynesville, MN and Center Point, 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 savings: $623/month in Center Point, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,525 in Center Point, IA

Regional cost estimates: Paynesville, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Center Point, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 9.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$623
Savings
Annual Impact
$7.5K
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.

Paynesville, MN

Population:3K
Cost Index:
86.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$316K

Center Point, IA

Population:3K
Cost Index:
78.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$306K

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Paynesville, MN

The North Star State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Center Point, IA

The Hawkeye State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Paynesville, MN vs Center Point, 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
↓ 19.2%
Paynesville, MN
$2,298
Center Point, IA
$1,857
Difference
$440
less
Groceries
↓ 7.7%
Paynesville, MN
$1,047
Center Point, IA
$967
Difference
$80.69
less
Healthcare
↓ 5.8%
Paynesville, MN
$769
Center Point, IA
$724
Difference
$44.68
less
Transportation
↓ 1.7%
Paynesville, MN
$1,255
Center Point, IA
$1,234
Difference
$21.00
less
Other
↓ 1.2%
Paynesville, MN
$1,614
Center Point, IA
$1,595
Difference
$18.78
less
All Utilities
↓ 3.4%
Paynesville, MN
$517
Center Point, IA
$500
Difference
$17.57
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$800
To$820
↑ $20.00
1 Bed
From$850
To$900
↑ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,110
To$1,180
↑ $70.00
3 Bed
From$1,480
To$1,630
↑ $150
Paynesville, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/mo

Center Point, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $900–$900/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 Paynesville, MN
$6,877
Monthly in Center Point, IA
$623
Difference

Home Values

Paynesville
Center Point
$316K
Median Value
$306K
↑ +4.2%
YoY Change
↑ +4.6%
↑ +44.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +32.6%

Homes in Center Point are 3% less expensive than Paynesville

Calculate payment - PaynesvilleCalculate payment - Center Point

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

Paynesville, 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

Center Point, 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

Paynesville, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Center Point, 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

Paynesville
Center Point
42 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
66.4%
Good Air Days
67.5%
98 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Paynesville, MN to Center Point, 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 Center Point, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Paynesville, 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 Paynesville to Center Point moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Paynesville, MN vs Center Point, IA

How do the cost estimates for Paynesville, MN and Center Point, IA compare?

Center Point, IA has a modeled overall cost index 9.1% lower than Paynesville, 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 Paynesville, MN, the model estimates $142,525 in Center Point, 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 Paynesville, MN and Center Point, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,110/month in Paynesville, MN and $1,180/month in Center Point, 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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