Cost of living - Iowa City

[rjayakkumar]

Hi,
Iam an Indian citizen and will be travelling to Iowa city soon.My salary is 67K per annum.Though I was in NJ for about 5 yrs (currently in India), I don't have any idea about Iowa city.Can you pls provide the following details.
(1) what will be the federal / state and other taxes for this salary in Iowa and approx take home salary (my salary will be bi-monthly).I checked in the sites, but each site gives different figures and I could not able to come to a conclusion on the take-home salary part.
(2) I plan to live in coralville in Iowa city, and my work place is in Iowa city.what will be the Cost of living in coral ville(approx. figure for house rent / indian groceries /transportation by bus from coralville to Iowa city etc - approx).I will be living with my wife and 5 yr old son, who will be studying there.

If I get these details, I will be in a position to decide on monthly savings there (approx.).

Thanks in advance.
R Jayakkumar

[pmat]

Hi,
Iam an Indian citizen and will be travelling to Iowa city soon.My salary is 67K per annum.Though I was in NJ for about 5 yrs (currently in India), I don't have any idea about Iowa city.Can you pls provide the following details.
(1) what will be the federal / state and other taxes for this salary in Iowa and approx take home salary (my salary will be bi-monthly).I checked in the sites, but each site gives different figures and I could not able to come to a conclusion on the take-home salary part.
(2) I plan to live in coralville in Iowa city, and my work place is in Iowa city.what will be the Cost of living in coral ville(approx. figure for house rent / indian groceries /transportation by bus from coralville to Iowa city etc - approx).I will be living with my wife and 5 yr old son, who will be studying there.

If I get these details, I will be in a position to decide on monthly savings there (approx.).

Thanks in advance.
R Jayakkumar

Although, I have never lived in Iowa - I would say that the cost of living there would be very less compared to NJ. You can google CNN cost of living calculator for comparison between different locations. 67K in Iowa City seems to be equivalent to ~90K in Newark, NJ area.

http://www.paycheckcity.com/ gives a good idea on what your take home pay would be. (Disclaimer: I am not affiliated to this website in any way).

[okonomi]

Hi,
Iam an Indian citizen and will be travelling to Iowa city soon.My salary is 67K per annum.Though I was in NJ for about 5 yrs (currently in India), I don't have any idea about Iowa city.Can you pls provide the following details.
(1) what will be the federal / state and other taxes for this salary in Iowa and approx take home salary (my salary will be bi-monthly).I checked in the sites, but each site gives different figures and I could not able to come to a conclusion on the take-home salary part.
(2) I plan to live in coralville in Iowa city, and my work place is in Iowa city.what will be the Cost of living in coral ville(approx. figure for house rent / indian groceries /transportation by bus from coralville to Iowa city etc - approx).I will be living with my wife and 5 yr old son, who will be studying there.

If I get these details, I will be in a position to decide on monthly savings there (approx.).

Thanks in advance.
R Jayakkumar

here is a take home pay calculator: http://www.suburbancomputer.com/tips_calculator.php
For bi-weekly payments (getting paid once every two weeks), with one child (one dependent), it will be
Gross pay $2,576.92
Federal income tax $244.23
Social Security $108.23
Medicare $37.37
Iowa $142.37
Net pay (take home) $2,044.72
Effective Withholding Rates

Federal Taxes
Federal Income Tax: 9.48%
Social Security: 4.20%
Medicare: 1.45%
Total Federal Taxes: 15.13%
State & Local Taxes
Iowa: 5.52%
Total Withholding Rate: 20.65%[/size]
Change parameters and run the numbers anyway you wish.
Use google to find costs of everything you want. Use NewJersey living experience to find costs of things.

I understand you do NOT currently have an option to go to NJ or Iowa. If that is the case, the calculation is moot.
If that is not the case, and if NJ is a 100 and Iowa is a 67 on a relative scale in everything, both income--and--outgo, then obviously NJ is better, because your savings ratio will also be NJ:Iowa = 100:67.

[oasis138]

Hi,
Iam an Indian citizen and will be travelling to Iowa city soon.My salary is 67K per annum.Though I was in NJ for about 5 yrs (currently in India), I don't have any idea about Iowa city.Can you pls provide the following details.
(1) what will be the federal / state and other taxes for this salary in Iowa and approx take home salary (my salary will be bi-monthly).I checked in the sites, but each site gives different figures and I could not able to come to a conclusion on the take-home salary part.
(2) I plan to live in coralville in Iowa city, and my work place is in Iowa city.what will be the Cost of living in coral ville(approx. figure for house rent / indian groceries /transportation by bus from coralville to Iowa city etc - approx).I will be living with my wife and 5 yr old son, who will be studying there.

If I get these details, I will be in a position to decide on monthly savings there (approx.).

Thanks in advance.
R Jayakkumar

I was in Quad cities this weekend and have to say seems like a different part of the country... downtown's were dead...not many places to go to/visit....and yes seemed very cheap compared to say a Chicago.

[okonomi]

I was in Quad cities this weekend and have to say seems like a different part of the country... downtown's were dead...not many places to go to/visit....and yes seemed very cheap compared to say a Chicago.

:) All of Iowa is like that vonly. God fearing christian people. Quite bleak in winters; time to stay home, sit around the radio as a family and listen to "The Prarie Home Companion". Not having too many avenues to spend money is a good thing; ain't it ? Spring floods are notorious, especially in recent years. Get a 2nd or 3rd floor apartment, just to be on the safe side.

[hope4best]

:) All of Iowa is like that vonly. God fearing christian people. Quite bleak in winters; time to stay home, sit around the radio as a family and listen to "The Prarie Home Companion". Not having too many avenues to spend money is a good thing; ain't it ? Spring floods are notorious, especially in recent years. Get a 2nd or 3rd floor apartment, just to be on the safe side.

Guys, stop scaring OP by saying there's hardly anything to do in Iowa and boring place etc :) He might start questioning himself on the move itself.

Just provide response to his original concern about the financial aspects.

[okonomi]

Guys, stop scaring OP by saying there's hardly anything to do in Iowa and boring place etc :) He might start questioning himself on the move itself.

Just provide response to his original concern about the financial aspects.

Seriously, it had been my dream to spend some time in Iowa City. My own personal interest in that place is the summer workshop: http://www.uiowa.edu/~iww/summer.htm
If the visiting desi spouse can find suitable baby sitter, there are many educational opportunities for the non-working spouse. Good, quiet place, a party town only around the University area, fri-sat nights.

[QUOTE]Iowa City

The Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty area is a center of art and learning, renowned for athletic prowess and civic spirit, recently designated as one of Iowa's Great Places. It's a vibrant marketplace with family fun festivals. Iowa City is designated as a UNESCO City of Literature, one of only three in the world. For more information, contact the Iowa City/Coralville Convention & Visitors Bureau at 319-337-6592 or 800-283-6592. Iowa City/Coralville Area website E-mail: [email][email protected][/email]

[oasis138]

Seriously, it had been my dream to spend some time in Iowa City. My own personal interest in that place is the summer workshop: http://www.uiowa.edu/~iww/summer.htm
If the visiting desi spouse can find suitable baby sitter, there are many educational opportunities for the non-working spouse. Good, quiet place, a party town only around the University area, fri-sat nights.

Spin as you guys might........ I found the place shockingly boring and dead...and that's why I think 67k offers significant savings.