What is the cost of living in Indianola, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Indianola has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Indianola has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Indianola ranks as #56 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Indianola ranks as the #29 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Indianola, check out:
Indianola Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Indianola. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Indianola is 94.
The Groceries index in Indianola is 95.
The Health index in Indianola is 93.
The Housing index in Indianola is 95.
The Transportation index in Indianola is 91.
The Utilities index in Indianola is 98.
| Living Expense | Indianola | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 93 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 91 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 94 | 100 |
Indianola 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 Indianola Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Indianola, 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 Indianola is $309,171.
The Median Rent in Indianola is $986.
The Median Income in Indianola is $75,453.
The Home Value To Income in Indianola is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Indianola is 0.16x.
Indianola, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Indianola Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Indianola Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Indianola Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Indianola Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Indianola SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Indianola
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Indianola. 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, 1.1x Indianola.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Indianola.
Ames, IA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Indianola.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Indianola |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.1x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Ames, IA | 67,669 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 1.1x |
