What is the cost of living in Grinnell, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Grinnell has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Grinnell has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Grinnell ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Grinnell ranks as the #40 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Grinnell, check out:
Grinnell Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Grinnell. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Grinnell is 100.
The Groceries index in Grinnell is 92.
The Health index in Grinnell is 80.
The Housing index in Grinnell is 93.
The Transportation index in Grinnell is 99.
The Utilities index in Grinnell is 90.
| Living Expense | Grinnell | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 80 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 90 | 94 | 100 |
Grinnell 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 Grinnell Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Grinnell, 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 Grinnell is $208,193.
The Median Rent in Grinnell is $895.
The Median Income in Grinnell is $65,320.
The Home Value To Income in Grinnell is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Grinnell is 0.16x.
Grinnell, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Grinnell Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Grinnell Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Grinnell Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Grinnell Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Grinnell SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Grinnell
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Grinnell. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Grinnell.
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Grinnell.
Marshalltown, IA has a cost of living index of 83, 0.9x Grinnell.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Grinnell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 212,421 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Marshalltown, IA | 27,626 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Newton, IA | 15,700 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 11,136 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Pella, IA | 10,720 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Knoxville, IA | 7,473 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Nevada, IA | 6,983 | 89 | 1.0x |
