Atlantic, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Atlantic, IA Summary

Cost of living in Atlantic research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Atlantic is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Iowa, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Atlantic is 86, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Atlantic is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Atlantic ranks as the #21 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.

  • Atlantic ranks as the #639 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Atlantic is $158,770.

  • The median income in Atlantic is $57,486.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
86
Atlantic's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Atlantic, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Atlantic has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Iowa, Atlantic has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.

The standard of living in Atlantic ranks as #21 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Atlantic ranks as the #64 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Atlantic, check out:

21 out of 85
In Iowa
639 out of 6,489
In America

Atlantic Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Atlantic. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Atlantic is 96.

  • The Groceries index in Atlantic is 100.

  • The Health index in Atlantic is 88.

  • The Housing index in Atlantic is 64.

  • The Transportation index in Atlantic is 100.

  • The Utilities index in Atlantic is 97.

Living Expense Atlantic Iowa National Average
Overall 86 90 100
Services 96 96 100
Groceries 100 97 100
Health 88 99 100
Housing 64 75 100
Transportation 100 99 100
Utilities 97 94 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Atlantic Cost of Living Vs. IA

Atlantic, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Atlantic is $158,770.

  • The Median Rent in Atlantic is $750.

  • The Median Income in Atlantic is $57,486.

  • The Home Value To Income in Atlantic is 2.8x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Atlantic is 0.16x.

Statistic Atlantic Iowa United States
Median Home Value $158,770 $230,258 $303,400
Median Rent $750 $949 $1,348
Median Income $57,486 $73,147 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.8x 3.1x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.16x 0.21x
$158,770
Median Home Value
$750
Median Rent
$57,486
Median Income

Atlantic, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Atlantic Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Atlantic Iowa
Shampoo $1.23 $1.28
Movie $12.12 $12.13
Bowling $18.36 $18
Haircut $23.69 $24.26
Beauty Salon $32.5 $45.56

Detailed Atlantic Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Atlantic Iowa
Ground Beef $6.11 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.4 $1.57
Milk $4.67 $4.67
Potatoes $4.5 $4.93
Pizza $11.19 $12.09
Beer $9.76 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.71 $3.7

Detailed Atlantic Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Atlantic Iowa
Optometrist $123.1 $125.68
Doctor $135.27 $135.78
Dentist $90.11 $113.29

Detailed Atlantic Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Atlantic Iowa
Gasoline $3.22 $3.46
Tire Balancing $68.12 $59.92

Detailed Atlantic Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Atlantic Iowa
All Electricity $174.82 $193.99
Phone $200.78 $192.25

Atlantic SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
5
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
4
Safety
6
Amenities
7
Education
7
Commute
10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Atlantic

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Atlantic. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Council Bluffs, IA has a cost of living index of 91, 1.1x Atlantic.

  • Carroll, IA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Atlantic.

  • Denison, IA has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Atlantic.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Atlantic
Council Bluffs, IA 62,564 91 1.1x
Carroll, IA 10,261 93 1.1x
Denison, IA 8,247 86 1.0x
Creston, IA 7,466 82 1.0x
Red Oak, IA 5,542 81 0.9x
Clarinda, IA 5,366 85 1.0x
Glenwood, IA 5,118 94 1.1x

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