Side-by-side tax comparison between Indiana (3.05% top rate) and Iowa (5.7% top rate).
| Salary | Indiana | Iowa | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $40,404 | $40,160 | −$244 | Indiana |
| $75K | $58,462 | $58,096 | −$366 | Indiana |
| $100K | $75,103 | $74,615 | −$488 | Indiana |
| $150K | $107,765 | $107,034 | −$731 | Indiana |
| $200K | $141,528 | $140,553 | −$975 | Indiana |
Indiana offers higher take-home pay at every salary level. Indiana's 3.05% top rate is more favorable than Iowa's 5.7%. At $100K, the difference is $488/year — that’s $41/month.
However, cost of living matters. Indiana has a cost index of 90 while Iowa is at 89. With similar costs of living, the tax difference is the main factor.