Sergeant Bluff, IA vs Princeton, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Princeton, MN has a modeled overall cost index 18.6% higher than Sergeant Bluff, IA.

Sergeant Bluff, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,490 / month
Princeton, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,520 / 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 Sergeant Bluff, IA and Princeton, MN 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: $1,201/month in Princeton, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,409 in Princeton, MN

Regional cost estimates: Sergeant Bluff, IA uses Omaha, NE. Princeton, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 18.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,201
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$14.4K
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.

Sergeant Bluff, IA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
80.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$341K

Princeton, MN

Population:5K
Cost Index:
95.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$354K

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Sergeant Bluff, IA

The Hawkeye State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Princeton, MN

The North Star State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sergeant Bluff, IA vs Princeton, MN

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
↑ 33.3%
Sergeant Bluff, IA
$2,030
Princeton, MN
$2,705
Difference
$675
more
Other
↑ 9.2%
Sergeant Bluff, IA
$1,740
Princeton, MN
$1,900
Difference
$161
more
Transportation
↑ 10.9%
Sergeant Bluff, IA
$1,332
Princeton, MN
$1,478
Difference
$146
more
Groceries
↑ 8.4%
Sergeant Bluff, IA
$1,084
Princeton, MN
$1,175
Difference
$90.99
more
Healthcare
↑ 10.9%
Sergeant Bluff, IA
$778
Princeton, MN
$863
Difference
$84.68
more
All Utilities
↑ 8.1%
Sergeant Bluff, IA
$537
Princeton, MN
$580
Difference
$43.53
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,030
To$1,100
↑ $70.00
1 Bed
From$1,190
To$1,250
↑ $60.00
2 Bed
From$1,490
To$1,520
↑ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,790
To$2,020
↑ $230
Sergeant Bluff, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

Princeton, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,250–$1,250/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 Sergeant Bluff, IA
$8,701
Monthly in Princeton, MN
$1,201
Difference

Home Values

Sergeant Bluff
Princeton
$341K
Median Value
$354K
↑ +3.5%
YoY Change
↑ +2.8%
↑ +35%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.1%

Homes in Princeton are 4% more expensive than Sergeant Bluff

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $272
Per year
Monthly Difference
$22.70
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Sergeant Bluff, 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

Princeton, 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

Additional Tax Information

Sergeant Bluff, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Princeton, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 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

Sergeant Bluff
Princeton
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
66.4%
96 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Sergeant Bluff, IA to Princeton, MN

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Princeton, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Sergeant Bluff, 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 Sergeant Bluff to Princeton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Sergeant Bluff, IA vs Princeton, MN

How do the cost estimates for Sergeant Bluff, IA and Princeton, MN compare?

Princeton, MN has a modeled overall cost index 18.6% higher than Sergeant Bluff, 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 Sergeant Bluff, IA, the model estimates $164,409 in Princeton, MN. 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 Sergeant Bluff, IA and Princeton, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,490/month in Sergeant Bluff, IA and $1,520/month in Princeton, MN. 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 Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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