Iowa to Nebraska Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 416 mile interstate move from Iowa to Nebraska? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Nebraska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Runza), real estate & housing (prairie/craftsman vs ranch/colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Nebraska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Iowa Chops, but get your taste buds ready for Runza & Beef Steak
- Nebraska housing costs are 20% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Nebraska is 18.17% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Nebraska will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Iowa to Nebraska movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Nebraska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Nebraska
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Flood-prone areas
- Milder winters
- Diverse job opportunities
- Less natural disasters
- Higher crime rate
- Higher cost of living
- Less open space
- Close-knit communities
- Lower cost of living
- Abundant farmland
Pros of moving from Iowa to Nebraska
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Nebraska with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the flood-prone areas of Iowa for fewer natural disasters in Nebraska
Cons of moving from Iowa to Nebraska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from close-knit communities in Iowa to live with a higher crime rate in Nebraska
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to abundant farmland and get used to less open space in Nebraska
Iowa vs. Nebraska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Runza |
Most popular meat dish | Iowa Chops | Beef Steak |
Most popular street food item | Sweet Corn | Grilled Corn |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Black Bean Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Iowa to Nebraska, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Runza of Nebraska. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Iowa Chops and sumptuous Sweet Corn, Nebraska residents know they have tasty Beef Steak and Grilled Corn to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burger of Nebraska. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like Zombie Burger, The Machine Shed, and A Dong Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Nebraska, don't wait too long before making your way to Nebraska's acclaimed eateries like Runza Restaurants, Misty's Steakhouse, and Modern Love.
When comparing lifestyles, Nebraska shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Nebraska compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Nebraska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Nebraska
Comparison | Iowa | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie/Craftsman | Ranch/Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, Attached garages | Energy efficiency, Modern appliances |
- The Prairie/Craftsman architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Ranch/Colonial architecture typical of Nebraska.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and attached garages, Nebraska real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and modern appliances.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Nebraska is more walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Nebraska is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Nebraska has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Nebraska housing costs are 20% more expensive than they are in Iowa with a median home price of $257,167 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Nebraska have increased by 47% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Nebraska is 18.17% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Nebraska
Comparison | Iowa | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, floods | Tornadoes, hailstorms |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/65 | 87/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 32/14 | 35/13 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 35 | 23.5 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 28 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to Nebraska. Nebraska gets 9% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- Nebraska has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and hailstorms in Nebraska.
- The average summer high temperature in Nebraska is 2 degrees warmer than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 1 degree colder than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Nebraska. Nebraska receives 11.5 fewer inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Nebraska
Comparison | Iowa | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $69,597 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 90.85 |
State Income Tax | 4.53% | 6.84% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.50% | 1.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transportation |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Low |
Homelessness | Minimal | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Nebraska tend to earn about 0% more than those in Iowa
- The COLI in Nebraska is 5% lower than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in NE is 6.84% compared to 4.53% in IA
- The affluence in Nebraska is moderate compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is low in Nebraska compared to low in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is minimal in Iowa and minimal in Nebraska
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Nebraska
Comparison | Iowa | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state, with a mix of Democratic and Republican representation | Lean Republican, with a predominantly conservative electorate |
Local Politics | Local governments have a significant impact, especially in urban areas like Des Moines | Local governance plays a critical role, with an emphasis in cities like Lincoln |
Religion | Christianity predominates, with a significant Catholic population | Primarily Christian, with a strong presence of Protestant denominations |
- Iowa tends to lean as a swing state, with a mix of Democratic and Republican representation in its political climate
- Nebraska, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican, with a predominantly conservative electorate
- Nebraska's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, with a strong presence of Protestant denominations
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominates, with a significant Catholic population
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Nebraska
Comparison | Iowa | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Creighton University University of Nebraska at Omaha |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Vanderveer Elementary (Davenport) Shimek Elementary School (Iowa City) | Brownell Elementary (Omaha) Pyrtle Elementary (Lincoln) Maxey Elementary (Lincoln) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Central Junior High (Coralville) South East Junior High (Iowa City) Ames Middle School (Ames) | Elkhorn Ridge Middle School (Elkhorn) Millard North Middle School (Omaha) Scott Middle School (Lincoln) |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Pleasant Valley High School (Bettendorf) | Lincoln East High School (Lincoln) Elkhorn South High School (Elkhorn) Millard North High School (Omaha) |
Top 3 private high schools | Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Regina High School (Iowa City) | Mount Michael Benedictine School (Elkhorn) Creighton Prep (Omaha) Marian High School (Omaha) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | Brownell Talbot School (Omaha) Duchesne Academy (Omaha) The Waldorf School (Omaha) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District West Des Moines Community Schools Ames Community School District | Elkhorn Public Schools Millard Public Schools Lincoln Public Schools |
How Much Do Iowa to Nebraska Movers Cost?
Moving 416 miles from Iowa to Nebraska will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,438 | 300 ft3 | $4.79 |
1 Bedroom | $2,135 | 450 ft3 | $4.74 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,521 | 750 ft3 | $4.69 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,109 | 1100 ft3 | $4.64 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,351 | 1600 ft3 | $4.59 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,180 | 1800 ft3 | $4.54 |
Top Iowa to Nebraska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Nebraska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Nebraska