Waupun, WI vs Le Mars, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Le Mars, IA has a modeled overall cost index 16.6% lower than Waupun, WI.

Waupun, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $970 / month
Le Mars, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,010 / 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 Waupun, WI and Le Mars, IA 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 Waupun, WI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,158/month in Le Mars, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $136,105 in Le Mars, IA

Regional cost estimates: Waupun, WI uses Madison, WI. Le Mars, IA uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 16.6%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,158

Savings

Annual Impact

$13.9K

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.

Waupun, WI

Population:11K

Cost Index:

96.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$253K

Le Mars, IA

Population:11K

Cost Index:

80.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$260K

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Waupun, WI

The Badger State

11K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Le Mars, IA

The Hawkeye State

11K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Waupun, WI vs Le Mars, IA

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	Waupun, WI	Le Mars, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,336/mo	$1,717/mo	↓ $619less	26.5%
Other	$1,688/mo	$1,472/mo	↓ $216less	12.8%
Transportation	$1,326/mo	$1,127/mo	↓ $199less	15.0%
Healthcare	$707/mo	$657/mo	↓ $49.47less	7.0%
All Utilities	$500/mo	$453/mo	↓ $46.52less	9.3%
Groceries	$944/mo	$916/mo	↓ $27.80less	2.9%

Housing

↓ 26.5%

Waupun, WI

$2,336

Le Mars, IA

$1,717

Difference

$619

less

Other

↓ 12.8%

Waupun, WI

$1,688

Le Mars, IA

$1,472

Difference

$216

less

Transportation

↓ 15.0%

Waupun, WI

$1,326

Le Mars, IA

$1,127

Difference

$199

less

Healthcare

↓ 7.0%

Waupun, WI

$707

Le Mars, IA

$657

Difference

$49.47

less

All Utilities

↓ 9.3%

Waupun, WI

$500

Le Mars, IA

$453

Difference

$46.52

less

Groceries

↓ 2.9%

Waupun, WI

$944

Le Mars, IA

$916

Difference

$27.80

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$670

To$790

↑ $120

1 Bed

From$780

To$800

↑ $20.00

2 Bed

From$970

To$1,010

↑ $40.00

3 Bed

From$1,290

To$1,330

↑ $40.00

Waupun, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Le Mars, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/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 Waupun, WI

$6,342

Monthly in Le Mars, IA

$1,158

Difference

Home Values

Waupun

Le Mars

$253K

Median Value

$260K

↑ +6.9%

YoY Change

↑ +1.6%

↑ +46.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +34.5%

Homes in Le Mars are 3% more expensive than Waupun

Calculate payment - Waupun Calculate payment - Le Mars

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.9K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$154

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.2%

Rate difference

Waupun, 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

Le Mars, 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

Additional Tax Information

Waupun, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

Le Mars, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Waupun

Le Mars

42 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

72.1%

Good Air Days

63.7%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

96 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

35 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

35 days

Before moving from Waupun, WI to Le Mars, IA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Le Mars, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Waupun, WI. 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 Waupun to Le Mars moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Le Mars, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Waupun, WI vs Le Mars, IA

How do the cost estimates for Waupun, WI and Le Mars, IA compare?

Le Mars, IA has a modeled overall cost index 16.6% lower than Waupun, WI. 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 Waupun, WI, the model estimates $136,105 in Le Mars, IA. 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 Waupun, WI and Le Mars, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Waupun, WI and $1,010/month in Le Mars, IA. 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 Wisconsin and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com