What is the cost of living in Fort Madison, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Madison has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Fort Madison has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Fort Madison ranks as #28 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Fort Madison ranks as the #57 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Fort Madison, check out:
Fort Madison Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Madison. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Madison is 100.
The Groceries index in Fort Madison is 100.
The Health index in Fort Madison is 56.
The Housing index in Fort Madison is 101.
The Transportation index in Fort Madison is 97.
The Utilities index in Fort Madison is 101.
| Living Expense | Fort Madison | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 56 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 94 | 100 |
Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison is $109,639.
The Median Rent in Fort Madison is $826.
The Median Income in Fort Madison is $50,705.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Madison is 2.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Madison is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Fort Madison | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $109,639 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $826 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $50,705 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.2x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Fort Madison, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Madison Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Madison | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.3 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.83 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $11.95 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.13 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $28.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Madison Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Madison | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.55 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.72 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.74 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.79 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.83 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.84 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Madison Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Madison | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $171.88 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.53 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Madison Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Madison | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.78 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Madison Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Fort Madison | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $229.59 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.45 | $192.25 |
Fort Madison SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Madison
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Madison. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Quincy, IL has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Fort Madison.
Burlington, IA has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Fort Madison.
Macomb, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Fort Madison.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quincy, IL | 39,109 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Burlington, IA | 23,728 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Macomb, IL | 14,894 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Keokuk, IA | 9,662 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Fairfield, IA | 9,456 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Mount Pleasant, IA | 8,951 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Monmouth, IL | 8,581 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Dallas, NC | 6,104 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Lewistown, MT | 6,087 | 89 | 1.0x |
