Iowa to Nevada Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 1,490 mile interstate move from Iowa to Nevada? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Nevada across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Shrimp Cocktail), real estate & housing (traditional, ranch vs modern, spanish), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Nevada), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Iowa Chops (Pork Chops), but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp Cocktail & Prime Rib
- Nevada housing costs are 102% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Nevada is 60.76% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Nevada will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Iowa to Nevada movers is Anytime Anywhere Piano & Moving Co.
Iowa to Nevada Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Nevada
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Rural isolation
- High humidity
- Mild winters
- Diverse job opportunities
- Urban amenities
- Dry climate
- Higher cost of living
- More transient lifestyle
- Desert terrain
- Affordable living
- Community-focused
- Peaceful landscapes
Pros of moving from Iowa to Nevada
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Nevada with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the rural isolation of Iowa for urban amenities in Nevada
- Get ready for a dry climate in Nevada
Cons of moving from Iowa to Nevada
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable living in Iowa to live with a higher cost of living in Nevada
- You'll lose out on the pro of a community-focused lifestyle and have to settle for the con of a more transient lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to peaceful landscapes and get used to desert terrain in Nevada
Iowa vs. Nevada: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Shrimp Cocktail |
Most popular meat dish | Iowa Chops (Pork Chops) | Prime Rib |
Most popular street food item | Sweet Corn | Street Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Vegan Buffets |
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 Nevada, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Shrimp Cocktail of Nevada. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Iowa Chops (Pork Chops) and sumptuous Sweet Corn, Nevada residents know they have tasty Prime Rib and Street Tacos 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 Vegan Buffets of Nevada. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like Zombie Burger, Machine Shed Restaurant, and Olde Main Brewing Co. After the boxes are unpacked in Nevada, don't wait too long before making your way to Nevada's acclaimed eateries like Mesa Grill, Eataly Las Vegas, and Peppermill Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Nevada shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Nevada, compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Nevada.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Nevada
Comparison | Iowa | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Ranch | Modern, Spanish |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Family-friendly | Energy efficiency, Close to entertainment |
- The Traditional and Ranch architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Spanish architecture typical of Nevada.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and family-friendly features, Nevada real estate listings often highlight attributes like energy efficiency and proximity to entertainment.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Nevada is more walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Nevada is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Nevada has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Nevada housing costs are 102% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $432,764 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Nevada have increased by 44% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Nevada is 60.76% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Nevada
Comparison | Iowa | Nevada |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Varies by Area |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/63 | 94/69 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/14 | 57/28 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34 | 10 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 21.9 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to Nevada. Nevada gets 44% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- Nevada 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 earthquakes and wildfires in Nevada.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Nevada is 9 degrees warmer than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 14 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Nevada. Nevada receives 24 fewer inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Nevada
Comparison | Iowa | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $72,333 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 101.5 |
State Income Tax | 4.8% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53% | 0.60% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 8.23% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Tourism, Gaming, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Nevada tend to earn about 4% more than those in Iowa
- The COLI in Nevada will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- Hooray, moving to NV means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Nevada is varied compared to moderate affluence in Iowa
- The poverty level is high in Nevada compared to moderate poverty in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and high in Nevada
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Nevada
Comparison | Iowa | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixture of Republican and Democratic, with rural areas leaning more Republican and urban areas leaning more Democratic | Swing state with a slight Democratic lean in recent elections |
Local Politics | Local politics often revolve around agricultural, educational, and infrastructure issues | Local politics focus on tourism, gaming, and water rights issues |
Religion | Predominantly Christian, with a significant Catholic presence | Diverse religious landscape, with a significant portion identifying as religiously unaffiliated |
- Iowa tends to lean toward a mixture of Republican and Democratic in its political climate
- Nevada, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a slight Democratic lean in recent elections
- Nevada's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, with a significant portion identifying as religiously unaffiliated
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian, with a significant Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Nevada
Comparison | Iowa | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Nevada Las Vegas; University of Nevada Reno; Nevada State College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Lincoln Elementary (Mount Vernon) Wilkins Elementary (Marion) | Gene Pike Elementary (Las Vegas) E. W. Griffith Elementary (Las Vegas) John Vanderburg Elementary (Henderson) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) South East Junior High (Iowa City) | Bob Miller Middle School (Henderson) Sig Rogich Middle School (Las Vegas) Ernest Becker Middle School (Las Vegas) |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Decorah High School (Decorah) | The Davidson Academy (Reno) Advanced Technologies Academy (Las Vegas) Coral Academy of Science (Las Vegas) |
Top 3 private high schools | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Cedar Valley Christian School (Cedar Rapids) | The Meadows School (Las Vegas) Bishop Gorman High School (Las Vegas) Sage Ridge School (Reno) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | Sage Ridge School (Reno) The Meadows School (Las Vegas) Foothills Montessori School (Henderson) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Cedar Falls Community School District | Clark County School District Washoe County School District Elko County School District |
How Much Do Iowa to Nevada Movers Cost?
Moving 1,490 miles from Iowa to Nevada will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 4-14 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Anytime Anywhere Piano & Moving Co.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,047 | 300 ft3 | $6.82 |
1 Bedroom | $3,048 | 450 ft3 | $6.77 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,043 | 750 ft3 | $6.72 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,341 | 1100 ft3 | $6.67 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,598 | 1600 ft3 | $6.62 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,833 | 1800 ft3 | $6.57 |
Top Iowa to Nevada Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Nevada movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Anytime Anywhere Piano & Moving Co.
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Nevada