Seward, NE vs Orange City, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Orange City, IA has a modeled overall cost index 10.2% lower than Seward, NE.

Seward, NE · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Orange City, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / 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 Seward, NE and Orange City, 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

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Estimated savings: $599/month in Orange City, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,814 in Orange City, IA

Regional cost estimates: Seward, NE uses Lincoln, NE. Orange City, IA uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 10.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$599
Savings
Annual Impact
$7.2K
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.

Seward, NE

Population:8K
Cost Index:
83.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$298K

Orange City, IA

Population:6K
Cost Index:
75.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$306K

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Seward, NE

The Cornhusker State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Orange City, IA

The Hawkeye State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Seward, NE vs Orange City, 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
↓ 10.2%
Seward, NE
$2,059
Orange City, IA
$1,849
Difference
$210
less
Transportation
↓ 10.2%
Seward, NE
$1,351
Orange City, IA
$1,213
Difference
$138
less
Other
↓ 7.3%
Seward, NE
$1,710
Orange City, IA
$1,585
Difference
$126
less
Groceries
↓ 5.2%
Seward, NE
$1,075
Orange City, IA
$1,019
Difference
$56.39
less
Healthcare
↓ 5.2%
Seward, NE
$772
Orange City, IA
$731
Difference
$40.49
less
All Utilities
↓ 5.2%
Seward, NE
$532
Orange City, IA
$504
Difference
$27.92
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$700
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$760
To$700
↓ $60.00
2 Bed
From$970
To$920
↓ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,350
To$1,180
↓ $170
Seward, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/mo

Orange City, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $700–$700/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 Seward, NE
$6,901
Monthly in Orange City, IA
$599
Difference

Home Values

Seward
Orange City
$298K
Median Value
$306K
↑ +6.9%
YoY Change
↑ +4%
↑ +34.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.9%

Homes in Orange City are 3% more expensive than Seward

Calculate payment - SewardCalculate payment - Orange City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.4K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$114
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Seward, 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

Orange City, 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

Seward, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

Orange City, 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

Seward
Orange City
41 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
83.7%
Good Air Days
63.7%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
96 High
🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
38 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
38 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

Before moving from Seward, NE to Orange City, 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 Orange City, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Seward, NE. 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 Seward to Orange City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Seward, NE vs Orange City, IA

How do the cost estimates for Seward, NE and Orange City, IA compare?

Orange City, IA has a modeled overall cost index 10.2% lower than Seward, NE. 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 Seward, NE, the model estimates $142,814 in Orange City, 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 Seward, NE and Orange City, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Seward, NE and $920/month in Orange City, 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 Nebraska and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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