What is the cost of living in Cedar Falls, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cedar Falls has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Cedar Falls has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Cedar Falls ranks as #65 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Cedar Falls ranks as the #20 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Cedar Falls, check out:
Cedar Falls Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cedar Falls. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cedar Falls is 96.
The Groceries index in Cedar Falls is 95.
The Health index in Cedar Falls is 109.
The Housing index in Cedar Falls is 98.
The Transportation index in Cedar Falls is 96.
The Utilities index in Cedar Falls is 94.
| Living Expense | Cedar Falls | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 109 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 94 | 100 |
Cedar Falls 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 Cedar Falls Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cedar Falls, 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 Cedar Falls is $259,137.
The Median Rent in Cedar Falls is $1,203.
The Median Income in Cedar Falls is $76,987.
The Home Value To Income in Cedar Falls is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cedar Falls is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Cedar Falls | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $259,137 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,203 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $76,987 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Cedar Falls, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Cedar Falls Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Falls | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.23 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.84 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $11.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.76 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $29.46 | $45.56 |
Detailed Cedar Falls Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Falls | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.96 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.8 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.85 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.73 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Cedar Falls Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Falls | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $151.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.97 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cedar Falls Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Falls | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.4 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.77 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cedar Falls Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Falls | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $147.73 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.56 | $192.25 |
Cedar Falls SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cedar Falls
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cedar Falls. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Waterloo, IA has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Cedar Falls.
Marshalltown, IA has a cost of living index of 83, 0.8x Cedar Falls.
La Porte, IN has a cost of living index of 85, 0.8x Cedar Falls.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cedar Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | 67,008 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Marshalltown, IA | 27,626 | 83 | 0.8x |
| La Porte, IN | 22,449 | 85 | 0.8x |
| Waverly, IA | 10,494 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Independence, IA | 6,164 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Oelwein, IA | 5,834 | 83 | 0.8x |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 5,038 | 84 | 0.8x |
