Cost of Living in Iowa

Avg Index: 71

42 cities · Updated March 2026

$993
Avg Rent / Month
$75,250
Avg Income
$213,678
Avg Home Value
71
Avg Cost Index
5.7%
Income Tax
6.0%
Sales Tax
Cheapest in Iowa
Fort Madison
Index: 48 · Rent: $824/mo
Most Expensive in Iowa
Waukee
Index: 102 · Rent: $1,290/mo

Iowa Cost of Living Overview

Iowa is significantly more affordable than the national average, with a state-wide cost index of 71. The average monthly rent across Iowa cities is $993, with median household incomes averaging $75,250 per year. The cheapest city is Fort Madison (index 48) and the most expensive is Waukee (index 102).

Iowa has a moderate tax environment with a 5.7% top income tax rate, 6.0% sales tax, and 1.57% effective property tax rate.

All 42 Cities in Iowa — Ranked by Cost

Sorted from cheapest to most expensive (US average = 100)

#CityCost Index RentIncomeHome ValuePopulation
1 Fort Madison 48 $824/mo $49,359 $95,900 10,221
2 Clinton 49 $751/mo $57,493 $115,400 24,425
3 Fort Dodge 50 $764/mo $61,769 $128,900 24,788
4 Marshalltown 53 $864/mo $68,854 $117,100 27,491
5 Ottumwa 53 $956/mo $56,994 $92,400 25,352
6 Carroll 54 $718/mo $59,323 $184,100 10,261
7 Mason 54 $874/mo $62,369 $130,000 27,135
8 Burlington 55 $931/mo $55,274 $115,800 23,800
9 Oskaloosa 55 $880/mo $62,172 $128,900 11,492
10 Newton 56 $828/mo $56,321 $151,600 15,696
11 Boone 57 $791/mo $67,269 $156,400 12,445
12 Storm Lake 57 $830/mo $58,341 $163,600 11,275
13 Spencer 58 $795/mo $57,068 $178,300 11,393
14 Waterloo 58 $896/mo $56,344 $150,200 66,947
15 Muscatine 61 $979/mo $59,332 $146,900 23,567
16 Davenport 62 $930/mo $64,497 $162,900 101,083
17 Sioux 62 $936/mo $65,473 $162,600 85,651
18 Council Bluffs 64 $980/mo $64,092 $164,300 62,564
19 Le Mars 64 $908/mo $72,381 $202,200 10,597
20 Cedar Rapids 65 $925/mo $67,859 $177,100 136,859
21 Dubuque 66 $943/mo $64,985 $193,100 59,271
22 Waverly 68 $909/mo $78,429 $215,200 10,446
23 Des Moines 70 $1,054/mo $63,966 $183,700 212,464
24 Indianola 73 $966/mo $78,125 $228,100 15,918
25 Marion 75 $978/mo $87,105 $230,800 41,690
26 Ames 78 $1,040/mo $60,102 $263,800 66,112
27 Pella 79 $1,041/mo $81,201 $259,600 10,624
28 Norwalk 80 $869/mo $94,583 $275,700 13,610
29 Coralville 81 $1,021/mo $66,508 $286,000 22,846
30 Iowa 82 $1,094/mo $57,533 $273,600 75,264
31 Cedar Falls 83 $1,177/mo $74,165 $252,500 40,662
32 Altoona 88 $1,203/mo $87,123 $257,300 20,592
33 West Des Moines 88 $1,194/mo $84,925 $286,300 69,893
34 Grimes 89 $1,156/mo $104,497 $281,000 15,810
35 Pleasant Hill 89 $1,204/mo $86,890 $284,100 10,796
36 Bettendorf 90 $1,148/mo $102,917 $295,600 39,297
37 Urbandale 95 $1,176/mo $113,086 $318,800 46,026
38 North Liberty 96 $1,226/mo $103,933 $300,000 20,782
39 Ankeny 98 $1,279/mo $106,603 $311,300 70,542
40 Clive 100 $1,099/mo $131,082 $379,000 18,776
41 Johnston 101 $1,288/mo $103,430 $346,200 24,196
42 Waukee 102 $1,290/mo $106,728 $328,200 26,974

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about cost of living in Iowa

What is the cost of living in Iowa?
The average cost of living index across 42 cities in Iowa is 71 (US average = 100). Average rent is $993/month and median household income averages $75,250/year.
What is the cheapest city in Iowa?
The cheapest city in Iowa is Fort Madison with a cost index of 48, median rent of $824/month, and median income of $49,359/year.
What is the most expensive city in Iowa?
The most expensive city in Iowa is Waukee with a cost index of 102, median rent of $1,290/month, and median income of $106,728/year.
What are taxes like in Iowa?
Iowa has a top income tax rate of 5.7%, a sales tax of 6.0%, and an effective property tax rate of 1.57%.
How many cities does CostToLive cover in Iowa?
We track cost of living data for 42 cities in Iowa with populations of 10,000 or more, using US Census Bureau ACS 2023 data.