Van Meter, IA vs Grand Marais, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Grand Marais, MN has a modeled overall cost index 14.1% lower than Van Meter, IA.

Van Meter, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,100 / month
Grand Marais, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / 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 Van Meter, IA and Grand Marais, 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

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Estimated savings: $807/month in Grand Marais, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $140,315 in Grand Marais, MN

Regional cost estimates: Van Meter, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Grand Marais, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 14.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$807
Savings
Annual Impact
$9.7K
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.

Van Meter, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
80.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$399K

Grand Marais, MN

Population:1K
Cost Index:
69.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$396K

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Van Meter, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Grand Marais, MN

The North Star State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Van Meter, IA vs Grand Marais, 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.

Other
↓ 21.0%
Van Meter, IA
$1,747
Grand Marais, MN
$1,380
Difference
$367
less
Transportation
↓ 18.3%
Van Meter, IA
$1,351
Grand Marais, MN
$1,104
Difference
$247
less
Housing
↓ 4.3%
Van Meter, IA
$2,034
Grand Marais, MN
$1,947
Difference
$86.83
less
All Utilities
↓ 7.2%
Van Meter, IA
$540
Grand Marais, MN
$501
Difference
$38.88
less
Healthcare
↓ 4.8%
Van Meter, IA
$783
Grand Marais, MN
$745
Difference
$37.78
less
Groceries
↓ 2.9%
Van Meter, IA
$1,045
Grand Marais, MN
$1,015
Difference
$29.99
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$890
To$700
↓ $190
1 Bed
From$930
To$930
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,100
To$1,020
↓ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,500
To$1,350
↓ $150
Van Meter, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/mo

Grand Marais, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/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 Van Meter, IA
$6,693
Monthly in Grand Marais, MN
$807
Difference

Home Values

Van Meter
Grand Marais
$399K
Median Value
$396K
↑ +1.3%
YoY Change
↑ +1.2%
↑ +35.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +47.5%

Homes in Grand Marais are 1% less expensive than Van Meter

Calculate payment - Van MeterCalculate payment - Grand Marais

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

Van Meter, 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

Grand Marais, 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

Van Meter, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Grand Marais, 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

Van Meter
Grand Marais
45 Good
Air Quality
36 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
72.4%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
95 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Van Meter, IA to Grand Marais, 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 Grand Marais, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Van Meter, 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 Van Meter to Grand Marais moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Van Meter, IA vs Grand Marais, MN

How do the cost estimates for Van Meter, IA and Grand Marais, MN compare?

Grand Marais, MN has a modeled overall cost index 14.1% lower than Van Meter, 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 Van Meter, IA, the model estimates $140,315 in Grand Marais, 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 Van Meter, IA and Grand Marais, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,100/month in Van Meter, IA and $1,020/month in Grand Marais, 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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