City Comparison · 2026
Iowa City vs Los Angeles
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Iowa City = $185k in Los Angeles
Metric
Iowa City
Los Angeles
COL Index
✓0.95
1.76
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,150/mo
$2,450/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,440/mo
$3,200/mo
State Income Tax
IA
CA
$100k Take-Home
✓$74,936
$73,198
$100k Effective Rate
✓25.06%
26.8%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$61,136
$43,798
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Iowa City IA | Los Angeles CA |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,968 $3,997/mo · 20.05% eff. | $48,276 $4,023/mo · 19.54% eff. |
| $100,000 | $74,936 $6,245/mo · 25.06% eff. | $73,198 $6,100/mo · 26.8% eff. |
| $150,000 | $107,578 $8,965/mo · 28.28% eff. | $103,090 $8,591/mo · 31.27% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iowa City or Los Angeles cheaper to live in?
Iowa City has a cost-of-living index of 0.95 while Los Angeles is 1.76 (1.00 = US average). Iowa City is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Iowa City is $1,150/month vs $2,450/month in Los Angeles.
How much more do you need to earn in Los Angeles vs Iowa City?
$100k in Iowa City = $185k in Los Angeles. Cost of living in Los Angeles is higher by 85.3%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Iowa City or Los Angeles?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $74,936 in IA (Iowa City) and $73,198 in CA (Los Angeles). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $61,136 in Iowa City vs $43,798 in Los Angeles.
More City Comparisons
California Salary GuideTexas Salary GuideIowa City vs New York City cost of livingIowa City vs Los Angeles cost of livingIowa City vs Chicago cost of livingCost of living in Iowa CityCost of living in New York CityCost of living in Los AngelesSoftware Engineer salary in Iowa CityRegistered Nurse salary in Iowa CityWhere does $100k rank nationally?