Union City, IN vs Iron River, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Iron River, MI has a modeled overall cost index 6.6% lower than Union City, IN.

Union City, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / month
Iron River, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,100 / 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 Union City, IN and Iron River, 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: $297/month in Iron River, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,436 in Iron River, MI

Regional cost estimates: Union City, IN uses Fort Wayne, IN. Iron River, MI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 6.6%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$297
Savings
Annual Impact
$3.6K
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.

Union City, IN

Population:3K
Cost Index:
76.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$131K

Iron River, MI

Population:3K
Cost Index:
71.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$133K

Planning the move to Iron River?

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Union City, IN

The Hoosier State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Iron River, MI

The Great Lakes State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Union City, IN vs Iron River, 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
↑ 11.8%
Union City, IN
$1,917
Iron River, MI
$2,144
Difference
$227
more
Other
↓ 11.2%
Union City, IN
$1,745
Iron River, MI
$1,549
Difference
$196
less
Transportation
↓ 12.6%
Union City, IN
$1,392
Iron River, MI
$1,217
Difference
$175
less
Groceries
↓ 10.3%
Union City, IN
$1,122
Iron River, MI
$1,006
Difference
$116
less
All Utilities
↓ 13.1%
Union City, IN
$613
Iron River, MI
$533
Difference
$80.53
less
Healthcare
↑ 6.1%
Union City, IN
$711
Iron River, MI
$754
Difference
$43.00
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$780
↑ $100
1 Bed
From$830
To$840
↑ $10.00
2 Bed
From$960
To$1,100
↑ $140
3 Bed
From$1,260
To$1,320
↑ $60.00
Union City, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/mo

Iron River, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$840/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 Union City, IN
$7,203
Monthly in Iron River, MI
$297
Difference

Home Values

Union City
Iron River
$131K
Median Value
$133K
↑ +10.1%
YoY Change
↑ +11.8%
↑ +57.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +45.2%

Homes in Iron River are 1% more expensive than Union City

Calculate payment - Union CityCalculate payment - Iron River

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.5K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$128
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.0%
Rate difference

Union City, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Iron River, 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

Union City, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Iron River, 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

Union City
Iron River
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
62.6%
Good Air Days
72.1%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Union City, IN to Iron River, 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 River, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Union City, IN. 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 Union City to Iron River moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Union City, IN vs Iron River, MI

How do the cost estimates for Union City, IN and Iron River, MI compare?

Iron River, MI has a modeled overall cost index 6.6% lower than Union City, IN. 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 Union City, IN, the model estimates $146,436 in Iron River, 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 Union City, IN and Iron River, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $960/month in Union City, IN and $1,100/month in Iron River, 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 Indiana and Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com

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