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

Which city costs less?

Story City, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% higher than West Point, NE.

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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $91.20/month in Story City, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,094 in Story City, IA

Regional cost estimates: West Point, NE uses Omaha, NE. Story City, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 1.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$91.20
Extra cost
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.

West Point, NE

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

Story City, IA

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

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West Point, NE

The Cornhusker State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Story City, IA

The Hawkeye State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Transportation
↑ 2.9%
West Point, NE
$1,334
Story City, IA
$1,372
Difference
$38.48
more
Housing
↑ 1.6%
West Point, NE
$2,033
Story City, IA
$2,066
Difference
$32.83
more
Other
↑ 1.8%
West Point, NE
$1,742
Story City, IA
$1,774
Difference
$31.79
more
Groceries
↓ 2.8%
West Point, NE
$1,080
Story City, IA
$1,050
Difference
$30.67
less
Healthcare
↑ 1.4%
West Point, NE
$776
Story City, IA
$787
Difference
$11.11
more
All Utilities
↑ 1.4%
West Point, NE
$535
Story City, IA
$542
Difference
$7.66
more

🏠Rent Comparison

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

1BR range: $920–$920/mo

Story City, IAZIP-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 West Point, NE
$7,591
Monthly in Story City, IA
$91.20
Difference

Home Values

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

Homes in Story City are 5% more expensive than West Point

Calculate payment - West PointCalculate payment - Story City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.4K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$114
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

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

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

Additional Tax Information

West Point, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

Story City, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Story City, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% higher than West Point, NE. 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 West Point, NE, the model estimates $151,094 in Story City, 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 West Point, NE and Story City, IA?

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

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