Dubuque, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Dubuque, IA Summary

Cost of living in Dubuque 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 Dubuque 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 Dubuque is 92, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Dubuque is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Dubuque ranks as the #50 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.

  • Dubuque ranks as the #1,501 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Dubuque is $243,017.

  • The median income in Dubuque is $64,985.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
92
Dubuque's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Dubuque, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dubuque has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Iowa, Dubuque has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Iowa's index of 90.

The standard of living in Dubuque ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Dubuque ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Dubuque, check out:

50 out of 85
In Iowa
1,501 out of 6,489
In America

Dubuque Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dubuque. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Dubuque is 98.

  • The Groceries index in Dubuque is 99.

  • The Health index in Dubuque is 89.

  • The Housing index in Dubuque is 82.

  • The Transportation index in Dubuque is 105.

  • The Utilities index in Dubuque is 96.

Living Expense Dubuque Iowa National Average
Overall 92 90 100
Services 98 96 100
Groceries 99 97 100
Health 89 99 100
Housing 82 75 100
Transportation 105 99 100
Utilities 96 94 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Dubuque Cost of Living Vs. IA

Dubuque, 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 Dubuque is $243,017.

  • The Median Rent in Dubuque is $943.

  • The Median Income in Dubuque is $64,985.

  • The Home Value To Income in Dubuque is 3.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Dubuque is 0.17x.

Statistic Dubuque Iowa United States
Median Home Value $243,017 $230,258 $303,400
Median Rent $943 $949 $1,348
Median Income $64,985 $73,147 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.7x 3.1x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.16x 0.21x
$243,017
Median Home Value
$943
Median Rent
$64,985
Median Income

Dubuque, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Dubuque Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Dubuque Iowa
Shampoo $1.36 $1.28
Movie $8.68 $12.13
Bowling $15.39 $18
Haircut $23.86 $24.26
Beauty Salon $34.11 $45.56

Detailed Dubuque Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Dubuque Iowa
Ground Beef $5.38 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.4 $1.57
Milk $4.77 $4.67
Potatoes $4.76 $4.93
Pizza $12.46 $12.09
Beer $9.93 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.59 $3.7

Detailed Dubuque Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Dubuque Iowa
Optometrist $127.39 $125.68
Doctor $130.0 $135.78
Dentist $85.78 $113.29

Detailed Dubuque Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Dubuque Iowa
Gasoline $3.44 $3.46
Tire Balancing $68.44 $59.92

Detailed Dubuque Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Dubuque Iowa
All Electricity $176.5 $193.99
Phone $187.56 $192.25

Dubuque SnackAbility

8
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
6
Safety
5
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dubuque

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dubuque. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Central, LA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Dubuque.

  • Platteville, WI has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Dubuque.

  • Maquoketa, IA has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Dubuque.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Dubuque
Central, LA 29,603 106 1.2x
Platteville, WI 11,421 92 1.0x
Maquoketa, IA 6,105 85 0.9x
Asbury, IA 5,949 107 1.2x
Anamosa, IA 5,553 88 1.0x
Prairie du Chien, WI 5,471 88 1.0x
Manchester, IA 5,144 87 0.9x

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