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 #20 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Atlantic ranks as the #65 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Atlantic, check out:
Atlantic Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Atlantic. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Atlantic is 99.
The Groceries index in Atlantic is 93.
The Health index in Atlantic is 68.
The Housing index in Atlantic is 99.
The Transportation index in Atlantic is 99.
The Utilities index in Atlantic is 98.
| Living Expense | Atlantic | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 68 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 94 | 100 |
Atlantic 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 Atlantic Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Atlantic is $158,965.
The Median Rent in Atlantic is $764.
The Median Income in Atlantic is $61,141.
The Home Value To Income in Atlantic is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Atlantic is 0.15x.
Atlantic, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Atlantic Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Atlantic Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Atlantic Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Atlantic Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Atlantic SnackAbility
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 88, 1.0x Atlantic.
Carroll, IA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Atlantic.
Denison, IA has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Atlantic.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Atlantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council Bluffs, IA | 62,586 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Carroll, IA | 10,208 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Denison, IA | 8,260 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Creston, IA | 7,435 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Red Oak, IA | 5,510 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Clarinda, IA | 5,353 | 82 | 1.0x |
| Glenwood, IA | 5,144 | 93 | 1.1x |
