Perry, IA vs Iron Mountain, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Iron Mountain, MI has a modeled overall cost index 15.3% lower than Perry, IA.

Perry, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,090 / month
Iron Mountain, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,035 / 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 Perry, IA and Iron Mountain, MI 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: $882/month in Iron Mountain, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $139,411 in Iron Mountain, MI

Regional cost estimates: Perry, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Iron Mountain, MI uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 15.3%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$882
Savings
Annual Impact
$10.6K
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.

Perry, IA

Population:8K
Cost Index:
83.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$164K

Iron Mountain, MI

Population:8K
Cost Index:
70.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$160K

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Perry, IA

The Hawkeye State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Iron Mountain, MI

The Great Lakes State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Perry, IA vs Iron Mountain, MI

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
↓ 22.5%
Perry, IA
$2,046
Iron Mountain, MI
$1,586
Difference
$460
less
Other
↓ 16.2%
Perry, IA
$1,758
Iron Mountain, MI
$1,473
Difference
$285
less
Transportation
↓ 5.2%
Perry, IA
$1,359
Iron Mountain, MI
$1,289
Difference
$70.03
less
Groceries
↓ 3.4%
Perry, IA
$1,031
Iron Mountain, MI
$996
Difference
$35.36
less
Healthcare
↓ 3.5%
Perry, IA
$773
Iron Mountain, MI
$746
Difference
$26.78
less
All Utilities
↓ 1.0%
Perry, IA
$533
Iron Mountain, MI
$527
Difference
$5.37
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$880
To$735
↓ $145
1 Bed
From$910
To$895
↓ $15.00
2 Bed
From$1,090
To$1,035
↓ $55.00
3 Bed
From$1,480
To$1,260
↓ $220
Perry, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/mo

Iron Mountain, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$950/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 Perry, IA
$6,618
Monthly in Iron Mountain, MI
$882
Difference

Home Values

Perry
Iron Mountain
$164K
Median Value
$160K
↑ +1.9%
YoY Change
↑ +3.6%
↑ +35.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +38.4%
$164K
Price Range
$143K - $177K

Homes in Iron Mountain are 2% less expensive than Perry

Calculate payment - PerryCalculate payment - Iron Mountain

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $4.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$361
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.9%
Rate difference

Perry, 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

Iron Mountain, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Perry, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Iron Mountain, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 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

Perry
Iron Mountain
45 Good
Air Quality
43 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
68.6%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from Perry, IA to Iron Mountain, MI

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Iron Mountain, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Perry, 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 Perry to Iron Mountain moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Iron Mountain, MI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Perry, IA vs Iron Mountain, MI

How do the cost estimates for Perry, IA and Iron Mountain, MI compare?

Iron Mountain, MI has a modeled overall cost index 15.3% lower than Perry, 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 Perry, IA, the model estimates $139,411 in Iron Mountain, MI. 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 Perry, IA and Iron Mountain, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,090/month in Perry, IA and $1,035/month in Iron Mountain, MI. 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 Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com

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