What is the cost of living in Boone, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Boone has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Boone has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Boone ranks as #28 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Boone ranks as the #57 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Boone, check out:
Boone Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Boone. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Boone is 96.
The Groceries index in Boone is 96.
The Health index in Boone is 66.
The Housing index in Boone is 97.
The Transportation index in Boone is 93.
The Utilities index in Boone is 93.
| Living Expense | Boone | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 66 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 94 | 100 |
Boone 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 Boone Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Boone, 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 Boone is $210,007.
The Median Rent in Boone is $831.
The Median Income in Boone is $69,222.
The Home Value To Income in Boone is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Boone is 0.14x.
Boone, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Boone Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Boone Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Boone Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Boone Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Boone SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Boone
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Boone. 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, 1.2x Boone.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.2x Boone.
Ames, IA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Boone.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Boone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.2x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Ames, IA | 67,669 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 1.1x |
