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 93, 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 #49 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Dubuque ranks as the #36 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Dubuque, check out:
Dubuque Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dubuque. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dubuque is 99.
The Groceries index in Dubuque is 97.
The Health index in Dubuque is 83.
The Housing index in Dubuque is 98.
The Transportation index in Dubuque is 94.
The Utilities index in Dubuque is 99.
| Living Expense | Dubuque | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 83 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 94 | 100 |
Dubuque 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 Dubuque Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Dubuque is $245,146.
The Median Rent in Dubuque is $948.
The Median Income in Dubuque is $65,845.
The Home Value To Income in Dubuque is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dubuque is 0.17x.
Dubuque, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Dubuque Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Dubuque Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Dubuque Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Dubuque Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Dubuque SnackAbility
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 105, 1.1x Dubuque.
Platteville, WI has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x Dubuque.
Maquoketa, IA has a cost of living index of 81, 0.9x Dubuque.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dubuque |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central, LA | 29,783 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Platteville, WI | 11,499 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Maquoketa, IA | 6,075 | 81 | 0.9x |
| Asbury, IA | 5,989 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Anamosa, IA | 5,629 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Prairie du Chien, WI | 5,491 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Manchester, IA | 5,191 | 85 | 0.9x |
