What is the cost of living in Altoona, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Altoona has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Altoona has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Altoona ranks as #61 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Altoona ranks as the #24 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Altoona, check out:
Altoona Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Altoona. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Altoona is 94.
The Groceries index in Altoona is 93.
The Health index in Altoona is 109.
The Housing index in Altoona is 95.
The Transportation index in Altoona is 94.
The Utilities index in Altoona is 99.
| Living Expense | Altoona | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 109 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 94 | 100 |
Altoona Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Altoona Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Altoona, IA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Altoona is $317,901.
The Median Rent in Altoona is $1,235.
The Median Income in Altoona is $86,114.
The Home Value To Income in Altoona is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Altoona is 0.17x.
Altoona, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Altoona Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Altoona Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Altoona Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Altoona Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Altoona SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Altoona
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Altoona. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 90, 0.9x Altoona.
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.1x Altoona.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Altoona.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Altoona |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 212,421 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.1x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 1.0x |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 11,136 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Bondurant, IA | 8,560 | 101 | 1.0x |
