Solon, IA vs Johnson Creek, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Johnson Creek, WI has a modeled overall cost index 20.5% higher than Solon, IA.

Solon, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,220 / month
Johnson Creek, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,340 / 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 Solon, IA and Johnson Creek, WI 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

Current salary in Solon, IA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,421/month in Johnson Creek, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $167,054 in Johnson Creek, WI

Regional cost estimates: Solon, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Johnson Creek, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 20.5%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,421

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$17.1K

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.

Solon, IA

Population:3K

Cost Index:

78.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$433K

Johnson Creek, WI

Population:3K

Cost Index:

94.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$398K

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Solon, IA

The Hawkeye State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Johnson Creek, WI

The Badger State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Solon, IA vs Johnson Creek, WI

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.

Category	Solon, IA	Johnson Creek, WI	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,026/mo	$2,772/mo	↑ $746more	36.8%
Other	$1,740/mo	$2,003/mo	↑ $262more	15.1%
Transportation	$1,346/mo	$1,573/mo	↑ $227more	16.9%
Groceries	$1,054/mo	$1,129/mo	↑ $75.81more	7.2%
Healthcare	$790/mo	$846/mo	↑ $56.50more	7.2%
All Utilities	$545/mo	$598/mo	↑ $53.81more	9.9%

Housing

↑ 36.8%

Solon, IA

$2,026

Johnson Creek, WI

$2,772

Difference

$746

Other

↑ 15.1%

Solon, IA

$1,740

Johnson Creek, WI

$2,003

Difference

$262

Transportation

↑ 16.9%

Solon, IA

$1,346

Johnson Creek, WI

$1,573

Difference

$227

Groceries

↑ 7.2%

Solon, IA

$1,054

Johnson Creek, WI

$1,129

Difference

$75.81

Healthcare

↑ 7.2%

Solon, IA

$790

Johnson Creek, WI

$846

Difference

$56.50

All Utilities

↑ 9.9%

Solon, IA

$545

Johnson Creek, WI

$598

Difference

$53.81

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$940

To$920

↓ $20.00

1 Bed

From$1,030

To$1,060

↑ $30.00

2 Bed

From$1,220

To$1,340

↑ $120

3 Bed

From$1,700

To$1,770

↑ $70.00

Solon, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,030–$1,030/mo

Johnson Creek, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,060/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 Solon, IA

$8,921

Monthly in Johnson Creek, WI

$1,421

Difference

Home Values

Solon

Johnson Creek

$433K

Median Value

$398K

↑ +3.5%

YoY Change

↑ +5.3%

↑ +32%

5-Year Change

↑ +42.9%

Homes in Johnson Creek are 8% less expensive than Solon

Calculate payment - Solon Calculate payment - Johnson Creek

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.9K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$154

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.2%

Rate difference

Solon, 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

Johnson Creek, WI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Wisconsin State Tax

Effective: 5.9%

$8.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.6%

$45.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,678/month

$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Solon, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

Johnson Creek, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

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

Solon

Johnson Creek

45 Good

Air Quality

42 Good

67.5%

Good Air Days

72.1%

92 Moderate

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌡☀🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

25 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

25 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Solon, IA to Johnson Creek, WI

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Johnson Creek, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Solon, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Solon to Johnson Creek moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Johnson Creek, WI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Solon, IA vs Johnson Creek, WI

How do the cost estimates for Solon, IA and Johnson Creek, WI compare?

Johnson Creek, WI has a modeled overall cost index 20.5% higher than Solon, 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 Solon, IA, the model estimates $167,054 in Johnson Creek, WI. 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 Solon, IA and Johnson Creek, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,220/month in Solon, IA and $1,340/month in Johnson Creek, WI. 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 Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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