What is the cost of living in Charles City, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Charles City has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Charles City has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Charles City ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Charles City ranks as the #74 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Charles City, check out:
Charles City Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Charles City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Charles City is 97.
The Groceries index in Charles City is 93.
The Health index in Charles City is 51.
The Housing index in Charles City is 96.
The Transportation index in Charles City is 93.
The Utilities index in Charles City is 96.
| Living Expense | Charles City | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 51 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 94 | 100 |
Charles City 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 Charles City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Charles City, 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 Charles City is $140,720.
The Median Rent in Charles City is $735.
The Median Income in Charles City is $59,180.
The Home Value To Income in Charles City is 2.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Charles City is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Charles City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $140,720 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $735 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $59,180 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.4x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Charles City, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Charles City Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Charles City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.32 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $10.28 | $18 |
| Haircut | $32.91 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Charles City Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Charles City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.94 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.74 | $3.7 |
Detailed Charles City Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Charles City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $87.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $153.18 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $105.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed Charles City Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Charles City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.39 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.83 | $59.92 |
Detailed Charles City Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Charles City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $209.45 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.72 | $192.25 |
