What is the cost of living in Cherokee, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cherokee has an overall cost of living index of 82, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Cherokee has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Cherokee ranks as #3 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Cherokee ranks as the #82 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Cherokee, check out:
Cherokee Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cherokee. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cherokee is 95.
The Groceries index in Cherokee is 99.
The Health index in Cherokee is 52.
The Housing index in Cherokee is 98.
The Transportation index in Cherokee is 89.
The Utilities index in Cherokee is 93.
| Living Expense | Cherokee | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 52 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 89 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 94 | 100 |
Cherokee 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 Cherokee Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cherokee, 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 Cherokee is $148,065.
The Median Rent in Cherokee is $728.
The Median Income in Cherokee is $61,750.
The Home Value To Income in Cherokee is 2.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cherokee is 0.14x.
Cherokee, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Cherokee Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Cherokee Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Cherokee Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Cherokee Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Cherokee SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cherokee
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cherokee. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Storm Lake, IA has a cost of living index of 91, 1.1x Cherokee.
Spencer, IA has a cost of living index of 89, 1.1x Cherokee.
Le Mars, IA has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Cherokee.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cherokee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake, IA | 11,428 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Spencer, IA | 11,400 | 89 | 1.1x |
| Le Mars, IA | 10,640 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Sioux Center, IA | 8,454 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Sheldon, IA | 5,474 | 88 | 1.1x |
