Cost of Living in Iowa
Updated November 2026 · population 3,210,507
Iowa prices are 12.2% below the US average (index 87.8), ranking 49th most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest saving at 65.3, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,166 a month.
Prices by category
Iowa price index by category, US average = 100: All items 87.8, Housing (rents) 65.3, Goods 93.7, Utilities 83.3, Other services 92.9
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Iowa (whole state) | 87.8 |
| Metropolitan areas of Iowa | 90.0 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Iowa | 84.1 |
Cities in Iowa
Select a column heading to sort.
| Des Moines | 212,421 | 90.9 | $2,316 | $4,830 | $1,090 | $194,700 |
| Cedar Rapids | 137,264 | 89.6 | $2,170 | $4,747 | $967 | $187,100 |
| Davenport | 100,913 | 89.4 | $2,270 | $4,706 | $978 | $166,400 |
| Sioux City | 86,101 | 86.6 | $2,222 | $4,531 | $976 | $173,600 |
| Iowa City | 75,752 | 91.5 | $2,335 | $5,014 | $1,094 | $285,900 |
| Ankeny | 72,615 | 94.0 | $2,502 | $5,320 | $1,319 | $331,000 |
| West Des Moines | 71,083 | 92.9 | $2,633 | $5,000 | $1,237 | $309,000 |
| Ames | 67,669 | 89.1 | $2,372 | $4,794 | $1,023 | $277,400 |
| Waterloo | 67,008 | 86.8 | $2,049 | $4,483 | $923 | $152,600 |
| Council Bluffs | 62,586 | 90.2 | $2,230 | $4,613 | $1,030 | $171,800 |
| Dubuque | 59,174 | 87.3 | $2,148 | $4,631 | $948 | $204,800 |
| Spirit Lake | 5,518 | 86.6 | $2,234 | $4,788 | $911 | $215,100 |
Metro areas in Iowa
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | 91.9 | 86.4 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 91.7 | 84.7 |
| Iowa City, IA | 91.5 | 84.0 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 89.1 | 68.3 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 89.0 | 71.4 |
| Ames, IA | 88.8 | 69.2 |
| Dubuque, IA | 87.3 | 64.0 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 87.1 | 63.1 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 86.5 | 57.8 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Iowa.
Modelled monthly budget at Iowa average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Iowa (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $636 | $7,632 | 29% |
| Utilities | $215 | $2,580 | 10% |
| Food at home | $264 | $3,168 | 12% |
| Transportation | $568 | $6,816 | 26% |
| Health care | $327 | $3,924 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $156 | $1,872 | 7% |
| Total | $2,166 | $25,992 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Iowa (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $817 | $9,804 | 22% |
| Utilities | $342 | $4,104 | 9% |
| Food at home | $488 | $5,856 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,123 | $13,476 | 30% |
| Health care | $605 | $7,260 | 16% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $308 | $3,696 | 8% |
| Total | $3,683 | $44,196 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Iowa (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $992 | $11,904 | 22% |
| Utilities | $416 | $4,992 | 9% |
| Food at home | $696 | $8,352 | 15% |
| Transportation | $1,497 | $17,964 | 33% |
| Health care | $564 | $6,768 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $397 | $4,764 | 9% |
| Total | $4,562 | $54,744 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
17.06¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +10.2% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Midwest (PADD 2)
$4.10/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +45.0% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the Midwest region rose +4.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 91.8 | 90.6 | 89.8 | 88.4 | 88.8 | 87.8 |
Change over the period: −4.0 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iowa an expensive state to live in?
Iowa has a cost of living index of 87.8 (US = 100), 12.2% below the US average. It ranks 49th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 65.3 (rank 44), goods 93.7, utilities 83.3 and other services 92.9. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Iowa?
At Iowa state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,166 for a single adult, $3,683 for a couple and $4,562 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 90.0 and nonmetro areas 84.1.
What is the median rent and home value in Iowa?
The median gross rent in Iowa is $972 a month and the median home value is $208,000 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 27.4% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 19.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, Midwest region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology