Cost of living in Le Mars research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Le Mars is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Iowa, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Le Mars is 91, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Le Mars is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Le Mars ranks as the #45 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.
Le Mars ranks as the #1,347 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Le Mars is $267,047.
The median income in Le Mars is $72,381.
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Le Mars has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Le Mars has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Le Mars ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Le Mars ranks as the #40 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Le Mars, check out:
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Le Mars. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Le Mars is 93.
The Groceries index in Le Mars is 99.
The Health index in Le Mars is 105.
The Housing index in Le Mars is 88.
The Transportation index in Le Mars is 89.
The Utilities index in Le Mars is 83.
| Living Expense | Le Mars | Iowa | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 93 | 96 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 99 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 105 | 99 | 100 | |
| Housing | 88 | 75 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 89 | 99 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 83 | 94 | 100 | |
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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Le Mars is $267,047.
The Median Rent in Le Mars is $908.
The Median Income in Le Mars is $72,381.
The Home Value To Income in Le Mars is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Le Mars is 0.15x.
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Le Mars. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Vermillion, SD has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Le Mars.
Sioux Center, IA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Le Mars.
Sheldon, IA has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Le Mars.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Le Mars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermillion, SD | 11,800 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Sioux Center, IA | 8,335 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Sheldon, IA | 5,386 | 85 | 0.9x |