Story City, IA vs West Point, NE: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Point, NE has a modeled overall cost index 1.7% lower than Story City, IA.

Story City, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / month
West Point, NE · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / 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 Story City, IA and West Point, NE 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: $90.10/month in West Point, NE

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,919 in West Point, NE

Regional cost estimates: Story City, IA uses Des Moines, IA. West Point, NE uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$90.10
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.1K
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.

Story City, IA

Population:3K
Cost Index:
82.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$268K

West Point, NE

Population:3K
Cost Index:
80.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$256K

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Story City, IA

The Hawkeye State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

West Point, NE

The Cornhusker State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Story City, IA vs West Point, NE

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.

Transportation
↓ 2.8%
Story City, IA
$1,356
West Point, NE
$1,318
Difference
$38.02
less
Housing
↓ 1.6%
Story City, IA
$2,041
West Point, NE
$2,008
Difference
$32.43
less
Other
↓ 1.8%
Story City, IA
$1,753
West Point, NE
$1,722
Difference
$31.41
less
Groceries
↑ 2.9%
Story City, IA
$1,037
West Point, NE
$1,067
Difference
$30.30
more
Healthcare
↓ 1.4%
Story City, IA
$777
West Point, NE
$766
Difference
$10.98
less
All Utilities
↓ 1.4%
Story City, IA
$536
West Point, NE
$528
Difference
$7.57
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$870
To$740
↓ $130
1 Bed
From$920
To$920
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,040
To$1,070
↑ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,430
To$1,410
↓ $20.00
Story City, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$920/mo

West Point, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$920/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 Story City, IA
$7,410
Monthly in West Point, NE
$90.10
Difference

Home Values

Story City
West Point
$268K
Median Value
$256K
↑ +4.8%
YoY Change
↑ +7.5%
↑ +35.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +46.6%

Homes in West Point are 4% less expensive than Story City

Calculate payment - Story CityCalculate payment - West Point

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$114
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Story 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

West Point, 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

Additional Tax Information

Story City, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

West Point, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
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

Story City
West Point
45 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
63.7%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
96 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

Before moving from Story City, IA to West Point, NE

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Point, NE for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Story City, 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 Story City to West Point moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Story City, IA vs West Point, NE

How do the cost estimates for Story City, IA and West Point, NE compare?

West Point, NE has a modeled overall cost index 1.7% lower than Story City, 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 Story City, IA, the model estimates $148,919 in West Point, NE. 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 Story City, IA and West Point, NE?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,040/month in Story City, IA and $1,070/month in West Point, NE. 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 Nebraska on TaxTakeHome.com

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