Le Mars, IA Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Le Mars. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Le Mars compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Le Mars, Iowa

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:

94 Cost of living index 0.9x lower vs US
#53 Cheapest in Iowa (of 85)
#1,669 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$275,107 Median home value
$929 Median rent
$74,701 Median income
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What is the cost of living in Le Mars, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Le Mars has an overall cost of living index of 94, 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 #53 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Le Mars ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Le Mars, check out:

Le Mars Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Le Mars. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Le Mars is 94.

  • The Groceries index in Le Mars is 99.

  • The Health index in Le Mars is 89.

  • The Housing index in Le Mars is 96.

  • The Transportation index in Le Mars is 93.

  • The Utilities index in Le Mars is 93.

Living Expense Le Mars Iowa National Average
Overall 94 90 100
Services 94 99 100
Groceries 99 95 100
Health 89 75 100
Housing 96 97 100
Transportation 93 93 100
Utilities 93 94 100

Le Mars Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages

Services
Le Mars 94
Iowa avg 99
Groceries
Le Mars 99
Iowa avg 95
Health
Le Mars 89
Iowa avg 75
Housing
Le Mars 96
Iowa avg 97
Transportation
Le Mars 93
Iowa avg 93
Utilities
Le Mars 93
Iowa avg 94

Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.

For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:

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Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Le Mars, IA Housing Cost Breakdown

$275,107Median Home Value
$929Median Rent
$74,701Median Income

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 Le Mars is $275,107.

  • The Median Rent in Le Mars is $929.

  • The Median Income in Le Mars is $74,701.

  • The Home Value To Income in Le Mars is 3.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Le Mars is 0.15x.

Statistic Le Mars Iowa United States
Median Home Value $275,107 $231,584 $332,700
Median Rent $929 $972 $1,413
Median Income $74,701 $75,059 $80,734
Home Value To Income 3.7x 3.1x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.15x 0.16x 0.21x

Le Mars, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Le Mars Services costs vs. Iowa
Item Le Mars Iowa
Shampoo $1.29 $1.28
Movie $9.36 $12.13
Bowling $16.4 $18
Haircut $24.32 $24.26
Beauty Salon $35.22 $45.56
Detailed Le Mars Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Item Le Mars Iowa
Ground Beef $5.89 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.75 $4.67
Potatoes $4.63 $4.93
Pizza $10.64 $12.09
Beer $9.33 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.8 $3.7
Detailed Le Mars Health costs vs. Iowa
Item Le Mars Iowa
Optometrist $135.1 $125.68
Doctor $177.33 $135.78
Dentist $108.21 $113.29
Detailed Le Mars Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Item Le Mars Iowa
Gasoline $3.28 $3.46
Tire Balancing $49.42 $59.92
Detailed Le Mars Utilities costs vs. Iowa
Item Le Mars Iowa
All Electricity $141.67 $193.99
Phone $194.04 $192.25

Le Mars SnackAbility

8.5Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 8.5/10
Housing 6/10
Affordability 8.5/10
Diversity 6/10
Safety 6/10
Amenities 8/10
Education 8/10
Commute 10/10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Le Mars

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 94, 1.0x Le Mars.

  • Sioux Center, IA has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Le Mars.

  • Sheldon, IA has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x Le Mars.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Le Mars
Vermillion, SD 11,878 94 1.0x
Sioux Center, IA 8,454 99 1.1x
Sheldon, IA 5,474 88 0.9x