What is the cost of living in Ames, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ames has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Ames has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Ames ranks as #65 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Ames ranks as the #20 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Ames, check out:
Ames Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ames. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ames is 100.
The Groceries index in Ames is 93.
The Health index in Ames is 114.
The Housing index in Ames is 95.
The Transportation index in Ames is 93.
The Utilities index in Ames is 93.
| Living Expense | Ames | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 114 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 94 | 100 |
Ames 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 Ames Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ames, 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 Ames is $274,367.
The Median Rent in Ames is $1,023.
The Median Income in Ames is $60,991.
The Home Value To Income in Ames is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ames is 0.2x.
Ames, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Ames Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Ames Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Ames Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Ames Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Ames SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ames
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ames. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Ames.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Ames.
Urbandale, IA has a cost of living index of 107, 1.1x Ames.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.0x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.0x |
| 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 |
