Council Bluffs, IA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Council Bluffs, IA Summary
Cost of living in Council Bluffs research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Council Bluffs is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Iowa, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Council Bluffs is 91, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Council Bluffs is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Council Bluffs ranks as the #45 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.
Council Bluffs ranks as the #1,347 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Council Bluffs is $219,415.
The median income in Council Bluffs is $64,092.
Table Of Contents
Council Bluffs's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Council Bluffs, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Council Bluffs has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Council Bluffs has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Council Bluffs ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Council Bluffs ranks as the #40 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Council Bluffs, check out:
In Iowa
In America
Council Bluffs Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Council Bluffs. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Council Bluffs is 97.
The Groceries index in Council Bluffs is 100.
The Health index in Council Bluffs is 89.
The Housing index in Council Bluffs is 74.
The Transportation index in Council Bluffs is 100.
The Utilities index in Council Bluffs is 94.
| Living Expense | Council Bluffs | Iowa | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 97 | 96 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 89 | 99 | 100 | |
| Housing | 74 | 75 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 100 | 99 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 94 | 94 | 100 | |
Council Bluffs, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Council Bluffs is $219,415.
The Median Rent in Council Bluffs is $980.
The Median Income in Council Bluffs is $64,092.
The Home Value To Income in Council Bluffs is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Council Bluffs is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Council Bluffs | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $219,415 | $230,258 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $980 | $949 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $64,092 | $73,147 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 3.1x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Council Bluffs, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Council Bluffs Services Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Council Bluffs | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.23 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.12 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.36 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.69 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $32.5 | $45.56 |
Detailed Council Bluffs Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Council Bluffs | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.11 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.67 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.5 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.19 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.76 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.71 | $3.7 |
Detailed Council Bluffs Health Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Council Bluffs | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.27 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $90.11 | $113.29 |
Detailed Council Bluffs Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Council Bluffs | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.12 | $59.92 |
Detailed Council Bluffs Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Council Bluffs | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $174.82 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.78 | $192.25 |
Council Bluffs SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Council Bluffs
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Council Bluffs. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Omaha, NE has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Council Bluffs.
Bellevue, NE has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Council Bluffs.
Papillion, NE has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Council Bluffs.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Council Bluffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 488,197 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Bellevue, NE | 64,355 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Papillion, NE | 24,063 | 100 | 1.1x |
| La Vista, NE | 16,594 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Chalco, NE | 10,625 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Plattsmouth, NE | 6,680 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Ralston, NE | 6,445 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Offutt AFB, NE | 5,663 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Glenwood, IA | 5,118 | 94 | 1.0x |
