Van Meter, IA vs Spring Green, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Spring Green, WI has a modeled overall cost index 14.7% higher than Van Meter, IA.

Van Meter, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,100 / month
Spring Green, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,140 / 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 Spring Green, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,060/month in Spring Green, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,715 in Spring Green, WI

Regional cost estimates: Van Meter, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Spring Green, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 14.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,060
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$12.7K
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

Spring Green, WI

Population:2K
Cost Index:
92.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$357K

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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.

Spring Green, WI

The Badger State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Van Meter, IA vs Spring Green, 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.

Housing
↑ 30.3%
Van Meter, IA
$2,034
Spring Green, WI
$2,650
Difference
$616
more
Other
↑ 9.6%
Van Meter, IA
$1,747
Spring Green, WI
$1,915
Difference
$168
more
Transportation
↑ 11.3%
Van Meter, IA
$1,351
Spring Green, WI
$1,504
Difference
$153
more
Groceries
↑ 4.6%
Van Meter, IA
$1,045
Spring Green, WI
$1,093
Difference
$48.17
more
All Utilities
↑ 7.2%
Van Meter, IA
$540
Spring Green, WI
$579
Difference
$39.06
more
Healthcare
↑ 4.6%
Van Meter, IA
$783
Spring Green, WI
$819
Difference
$35.80
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$890
To$830
↓ $60.00
1 Bed
From$930
To$960
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,100
To$1,140
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,500
To$1,450
↓ $50.00
Van Meter, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/mo

Spring Green, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $960–$960/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
$8,560
Monthly in Spring Green, WI
$1,060
Difference

Home Values

Van Meter
Spring Green
$399K
Median Value
$357K
↑ +1.3%
YoY Change
↑ +5.6%
↑ +35.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +41.4%

Homes in Spring Green are 11% less expensive than Van Meter

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

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

Spring Green, 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

Van Meter, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Spring Green, 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

Van Meter
Spring Green
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 Van Meter, IA to Spring Green, WI

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Spring Green, WI 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 Spring Green moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Van Meter, IA vs Spring Green, WI

How do the cost estimates for Van Meter, IA and Spring Green, WI compare?

Spring Green, WI has a modeled overall cost index 14.7% higher 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 $162,715 in Spring Green, 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 Van Meter, IA and Spring Green, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,100/month in Van Meter, IA and $1,140/month in Spring Green, 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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