Recommended
#1 Mover in Iowa
Air Van northAmerican Van Lines
Of all the interstate movers we researched, Air Van northAmerican stood head and shoulders above the competition when it came to responsiveness, transparency with estimates, damage-free handling of possessions, and overall accountability. With over 1,800 trucks, 40,000 truck shipments per year, 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states, and a real focus on continuous improvement, this mover has the scale, resources and commitment to quality that enables them to provide an exceptionally smooth moving experience despite the complexities of long distance transportation.
Services include:
- Long distance moves
- Local moves
- Full-service moving
- Corporate relocation
- Vehicle transport
- Office moving
Contact: (877) 306-2585
How Much Does It Cost To Move To Iowa?
So you’re thinking about moving to Iowa? You probably have a ton of questions running through your mind. The big one is likely “How much does it cost to move to Iowa?” Well, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll break it all down for you here.
Moving Cost Breakdown
The cost of your move to Iowa depends on several key factors, which we’ll outline here first before getting into specifics. But on average, you can expect to spend between $742 and $6,578 to hire professional movers within Iowa. The hourly rate typically ranges from $278-$764.
Average Cost to Hire Movers in Iowa
Here’s a quick look at how much you can expect your move to cost based on the size of your home and how many hours the movers will need:
- Studio apartment:
- Cost: $742
- 2 movers needed
- 3 hours of work
- $278 per hour rate
- 1-bedroom home:
- Cost: $1,020
- 2 movers
- 4 hours
- $278 per hour
- 2-bedroom home:
- Cost: $1,634
- 3 movers
- 5 hours
- $390 per hour
- 3-bedroom home:
- Cost: $3,738
- 4 movers
- 8 hours
- $546 per hour
- 4-bedroom house:
- Cost: $4,283
- 4 movers
- 9 hours
- $546 per hour
- 5+ bedroom house:
- Cost: $6,578
- 5 movers
- 10 hours
- $764 per hour
As you can see, the more stuff you have, the more time and movers you’ll need, which raises the costs. But this gives you a general idea of what to budget for movers within Iowa.
Average Interstate Moving Costs
If you’re moving to Iowa from out-of-state, costs vary even more depending on where you’re coming from. But here are some estimates for average costs to move a 2-3 bedroom home to Iowa from major cities:
- From Chicago to Iowa: $3,242 – $5,974
- From New York City to Iowa: $2,585 – $5,720
- From Boston to Iowa $3,183 – $5,306
- From Dallas to Iowa: $2,425 – $5,410
- From Miami to Iowa: $3,522 – $5,871
- From Los Angeles to Iowa: $3,703 – $6,172
Now you know the ballpark. Time to dig deeper into the specifics.
Key Factors Affecting Moving Costs
As mentioned earlier, several things influence how much your move will cost. Here are some of the main factors:
- Size of move: The more stuff you’re bringing, the pricier it gets. Make sure to only bring items you really want or need to save money.
- Distance: Local, cross-state, and cross-country moves all have varying price tags. Greater distances mean higher fuel costs for the movers.
- Type of move: Hiring full-service movers is convenient but costly. Rental trucks or containers save money but require lots of work.
- Add-ons: Packaging and unpacking services raise costs. But they can be nice to have.
- Season: Summer is high season. Moving costs can jump 20-30% compared to off-peak seasons!
- Cost of living: Iowa’s is about 11% lower than national average. But depends on the area.
Ok, let’s take a closer look at housing and job markets next, since those expenses really add up when relocating.
Housing Market & Rents
Another major factor in determining if moving to Iowa makes financial sense for you is taking a peek at real estate and rental prices.
- Iowa’s median home price is around $141,200 compared to $231,200 nationally. Not bad!
- Home values have appreciated about 25.1% overall and 4% over the past year.
- Approximately 70% of Iowans own their home.
- As for rents, studios average $542/month while 4-bedroom units average $1,197.
Having a cushion in these big expense areas gives you more wiggle room in your monthly budget after relocating.
Breakdown of Rental Prices
Here’s a quick look at average rents by unit size in Iowa if you plan to lease initially:
- Studio apartment: $542
- 1-bedroom: $620
- 2-bedroom: $793
- 3-bedroom: $1,062
- 4-bedroom: $1,197
Pretty affordable compared to many parts of the country!
Employment and Income
Ensuring you can find solid work is key before committing to an out-of-state relocation. The good news is Iowa’s unemployment rate sits at just 2.4% compared to 3.7% nationally.
- Iowa has seen 0.9% job growth over the past year
- Over the next decade, jobs are projected to rise 26.75%
In terms of pay, the median income per household is $56,570 in Iowa versus $57,652 across the US. But your money should stretch further due to lower living expenses in Iowa.
Top Employers
Major Iowa employers like Hy-Vee and Rockwell Collins offer ample job opportunities spanning various fields too. Here are 10 of the largest companies:
- Hy-Vee
- Rockwell Collins
- Casey’s General Stores
- Principal Financial Group
- Fareway Stores
- University of Iowa
- HNI
- Meredith
- University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
- Iowa State Univ Employees Credit Union
Taxes in Iowa
Another important financial factor if moving to Iowa is getting familiar with the tax rates. This determines how much of your hard-earned paychecks go towards various government programs.
- Iowa’s income tax rate ranges from 0.33% – 8.53%
- The statewide sales tax sits between 6% – 7%
- You’ll face average property tax rates around 1.53%
- Gas taxes are 30.5 cents per gallon of regular gasoline
- Taxes on diesel total 32.5 cents per gallon
Now let’s shift gears and talk about lifestyle factors that might motivate (or dissuade) you from relocating to Iowa.
Living in Iowa
Iowa offers a fairly relaxed, rural way of living combined with just enough conveniences and metropolitan hubs. Here’s a peek at average monthly living expenses for a hypothetical family of 2 adults and 2 kids in various Iowa metro areas:
Sioux City
- Housing: $806
- Food: $707
- Childcare: $1,164
- Transportation: $1,195
- Healthcare: $1,212
- Other necessities: $610
- Taxes: $883
- Total: $6,578/month or $78,935/year
Dubuque
- Housing: $780
- Food: $724
- Childcare: $1,097
- Transportation: $1,190
- Healthcare: $1,196
- Other necessities: $607
- Taxes: $906
- Total: $6,500/month or $77,996/year
Des Moines/West Des Moines
- Housing: $875
- Food: $733
- Childcare: $1,161
- Transportation: $1,229
- Healthcare: $921
- Other necessities: $649
- Taxes: $898
- Total: $6,465/month or $77,584/year
Cedar Rapids
- Housing: $774
- Food: $706
- Childcare: $1,107
- Transportation: $1,219
- Healthcare: $946
- Other necessities: $597
- Taxes: $831
- Total: $6,181/month or $74,170/year
Waterloo/Cedar Falls
- Housing: $765
- Food: $686
- Childcare: $1,084
- Transportation: $1,189
- Healthcare: $983
- Other necessities: $585
- Taxes: $813
- Total: $6,106/month or $73,266/year
The takeaway is that Iowa offers very reasonable living costs compared to national averages. $6,000-7,900 per month should afford a comfortable lifestyle.
Moving Logistics
Handling all the logistics related to moving might feel like coordinating mission control at NASA. But we’ll make it easy by outlining everything you need to address.
Recommended Movers
First up, you need to secure a reputable moving company. Here are some top-rated options for smooth Iowa moves:
- North American Van Lines: Equipped for complex moves
- Safeway Moving: Great value, veteran-owned
- American Van Lines: 20 years experience, flat rates
- Mayflower Relocation: Specializes in long-distance
- JK Moving Services: Premium service
Be sure to get free quotes from multiple movers to find the best match for your relocation needs and budget.
Shipping Your Vehicles
You’ll also want pros handling your car transportation across state lines using enclosed trailers and insurance:
- AmeriFreight: Discount rates for advance bookings
- uShip: Live bidding gets low prices
- Sherpa Auto Transport: Upfront pricing
- Montway Auto Transport: Reliable reputation
- Easy Auto Ship: Quick pick-up availability
Updating Documentation
Once settled in Iowa, you must update legal documents like:
- Driver’s licenses
- Vehicle registrations
- Voter registration
Most tasks can be handled at your local DMV office. Welcome to bureaucracy!
Road Conditions & Safety
Iowa sees around 330 annual traffic fatalities. Stay vigilant on main highways like:
- I-80
- I-35
- I-29
- I-74
Ice and snow are road hazards during Iowa’s cold winters. Allow extra drive time.
And plan moves between September and November when the weather cooperates better. Summer heat waves also create challenges.
The Bottom Line
We’ve covered everything you could possibly wonder when asking “How much does it cost to move to Iowa?” The total expenses vary drastically based on your unique situation and needs.
But generally speaking, Iowa offers very affordable living costs around 10% under national averages. You should be able to maintain your standard of living, or possibly even upgrade it, by relocating to the Hawkeye State.
There are always tradeoffs to weigh like distance from current friends and family. But economically speaking, Iowa looks attractive to call home if you seek reasonable taxes, plentiful jobs, and breathable home prices.
Just be strategic in choosing reliable movers and securing employment prospects before finalizing any big decisions. But when you run the numbers, Iowa stacks up nicely for most folks. Hopefully this gives you great insight and confidence about what relocation would entail. Let us know if any other questions come up!
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