Fort Dodge, IA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Fort Dodge, IA Summary
Cost of living in Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge is 88, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Fort Dodge is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Fort Dodge ranks as the #31 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.
Fort Dodge ranks as the #912 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Fort Dodge is $127,253.
The median income in Fort Dodge is $61,769.
Table Of Contents
Fort Dodge's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Fort Dodge, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Dodge has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Fort Dodge has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Fort Dodge ranks as #31 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Fort Dodge ranks as the #54 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Fort Dodge, check out:
In Iowa
In America
Fort Dodge Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Dodge. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Dodge is 103.
The Groceries index in Fort Dodge is 97.
The Health index in Fort Dodge is 112.
The Housing index in Fort Dodge is 60.
The Transportation index in Fort Dodge is 97.
The Utilities index in Fort Dodge is 97.
| Living Expense | Fort Dodge | Iowa | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 103 | 96 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 112 | 99 | 100 | |
| Housing | 60 | 75 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 97 | 94 | 100 | |
Fort Dodge, 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 Fort Dodge is $127,253.
The Median Rent in Fort Dodge is $764.
The Median Income in Fort Dodge is $61,769.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Dodge is 2.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Dodge is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Fort Dodge | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $127,253 | $230,258 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $764 | $949 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $61,769 | $73,147 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.1x | 3.1x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Fort Dodge, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Dodge Services Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Dodge | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.42 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.29 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.39 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.5 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Dodge Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Dodge | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.53 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.36 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.72 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.02 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.12 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.65 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Dodge Health Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Dodge | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $176.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $107.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Dodge Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Dodge | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.22 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Dodge Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Dodge | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.6 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.02 | $192.25 |
Fort Dodge SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Dodge
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Dodge. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ames, IA has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Fort Dodge.
Boone, IA has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Fort Dodge.
Carroll, IA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Fort Dodge.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Dodge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | 66,112 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Boone, IA | 12,445 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Carroll, IA | 10,261 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Perry, IA | 7,928 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Nevada, IA | 6,952 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Algona, IA | 5,414 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 5,062 | 86 | 1.0x |
