What is the cost of living in Grimes, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Grimes has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Grimes has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Grimes ranks as #72 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Grimes ranks as the #13 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Grimes, check out:
Grimes Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Grimes. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Grimes is 99.
The Groceries index in Grimes is 98.
The Health index in Grimes is 112.
The Housing index in Grimes is 99.
The Transportation index in Grimes is 98.
The Utilities index in Grimes is 100.
| Living Expense | Grimes | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 112 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 94 | 100 |
Grimes 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 Grimes Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Grimes, 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 Grimes is $348,193.
The Median Rent in Grimes is $1,251.
The Median Income in Grimes is $120,037.
The Home Value To Income in Grimes is 2.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Grimes is 0.13x.
Grimes, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Grimes Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Grimes Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Grimes Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Grimes Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Grimes SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Grimes
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Grimes. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Grimes.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Grimes.
Urbandale, IA has a cost of living index of 107, 1.0x Grimes.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Grimes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.0x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 1.0x |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 11,136 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Perry, IA | 7,985 | 84 | 0.8x |
