What is the cost of living in Denison, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Denison has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Denison has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Denison ranks as #23 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Denison ranks as the #62 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Denison, check out:
Denison Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Denison. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Denison is 100.
The Groceries index in Denison is 95.
The Health index in Denison is 59.
The Housing index in Denison is 99.
The Transportation index in Denison is 97.
The Utilities index in Denison is 94.
| Living Expense | Denison | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 59 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 94 | 100 |
Denison 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 Denison Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Denison, 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 Denison is $176,094.
The Median Rent in Denison is $731.
The Median Income in Denison is $65,684.
The Home Value To Income in Denison is 2.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Denison is 0.13x.
Denison, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Denison Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Denison Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Denison Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Denison Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Denison SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Denison
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Denison. 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, 1.0x Denison.
Carroll, IA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Denison.
Atlantic, IA has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Denison.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Denison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake, IA | 11,428 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Carroll, IA | 10,208 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Atlantic, IA | 6,763 | 86 | 1.0x |
