What is the cost of living in Creston, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Creston has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Creston has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Creston ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Creston ranks as the #68 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Creston, check out:
Creston Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Creston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Creston is 100.
The Groceries index in Creston is 99.
The Health index in Creston is 59.
The Housing index in Creston is 96.
The Transportation index in Creston is 96.
The Utilities index in Creston is 91.
| Living Expense | Creston | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 59 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 94 | 100 |
Creston 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 Creston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Creston, 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 Creston is $152,978.
The Median Rent in Creston is $703.
The Median Income in Creston is $52,633.
The Home Value To Income in Creston is 2.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Creston is 0.16x.
Creston, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Creston Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Creston Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Creston Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Creston Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Creston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Creston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Creston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.2x Creston.
Decatur, IL has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Creston.
Waukee, IA has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Creston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Creston |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Decatur, IL | 69,815 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.3x |
| Indianola, IA | 16,044 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Atlantic, IA | 6,763 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Red Oak, IA | 5,510 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Winterset, IA | 5,416 | 92 | 1.1x |
