What is the cost of living in Johnston, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Johnston has an overall cost of living index of 110, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Johnston has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Johnston ranks as #83 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Johnston ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Johnston, check out:
Johnston Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Johnston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Johnston is 101.
The Groceries index in Johnston is 97.
The Health index in Johnston is 138.
The Housing index in Johnston is 99.
The Transportation index in Johnston is 97.
The Utilities index in Johnston is 100.
| Living Expense | Johnston | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 110 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 138 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 94 | 100 |
Johnston 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 Johnston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Johnston, 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 Johnston is $394,440.
The Median Rent in Johnston is $1,338.
The Median Income in Johnston is $106,551.
The Home Value To Income in Johnston is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Johnston is 0.15x.
Johnston, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Johnston Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Johnston Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Johnston Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Johnston Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Johnston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Johnston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Johnston. 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, 0.8x Johnston.
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Johnston.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 0.9x Johnston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 212,421 | 90 | 0.8x |
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.0x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 0.9x |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 11,136 | 103 | 0.9x |
