What is the cost of living in Iowa City, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Iowa City has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Iowa City has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Iowa City ranks as #72 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Iowa City ranks as the #13 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Iowa City, check out:
Iowa City Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Iowa City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Iowa City is 93.
The Groceries index in Iowa City is 99.
The Health index in Iowa City is 117.
The Housing index in Iowa City is 97.
The Transportation index in Iowa City is 97.
The Utilities index in Iowa City is 97.
| Living Expense | Iowa City | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 93 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 117 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 94 | 100 |
Iowa City 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 Iowa City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Iowa City, 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 Iowa City is $298,092.
The Median Rent in Iowa City is $1,094.
The Median Income in Iowa City is $58,546.
The Home Value To Income in Iowa City is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Iowa City is 0.22x.
