What it actually costs to live in Iowa.
Iowa’s cost-of-living index sits at 87 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #47 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Iowa costs about 13% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $245,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $820/mo.
Iowa cost components
| Component | Iowa | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 87 | 100 |
| Median home price | $245,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $820/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $155/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Iowa compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Iowa ranks #47 for cost. That puts Iowa among the 10 most affordable — typical relocation candidates from CA/NY/MA looking for housing relief land here. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Iowa metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Des Moines has very different housing dynamics than smaller Iowa metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- Des MoinesCOL 89 · home $240,000rent $850/mo →
- Cedar RapidsCOL 86 · home $185,000rent $700/mo →
- DavenportCOL 84 · home $165,000rent $850/mo →
More Iowa metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Iowa cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Iowa?
Iowa's MERIC cost-of-living index is 87 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Iowa costs about 13% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Iowa?
Iowa's state-level median home price is approximately $245,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Iowa?
Iowa's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $820/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Iowa-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Iowa COL index ~89; Des Moines is increasingly a financial-services back-office hub (Principal Financial, Wellmark) with rising housing costs but still 25%+ below national.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.