Marshalltown, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-23

Cost Of Living In Marshalltown, IA Summary

Cost of living in Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown is 88, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Marshalltown is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Marshalltown ranks as the #31 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.

  • Marshalltown ranks as the #912 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Marshalltown is $171,195.

  • The median income in Marshalltown is $68,854.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
88
Marshalltown's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Marshalltown, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Marshalltown has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Iowa, Marshalltown has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 91.

The standard of living in Marshalltown ranks as #31 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Marshalltown ranks as the #54 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Marshalltown, check out:

31 out of 85
In Iowa
912 out of 6,489
In America

Marshalltown Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

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

  • The Services index in Marshalltown is 102.

  • The Groceries index in Marshalltown is 96.

  • The Health index in Marshalltown is 110.

  • The Housing index in Marshalltown is 60.

  • The Transportation index in Marshalltown is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Marshalltown is 97.

Living Expense Marshalltown Iowa National Average
Overall 88 91 100
Services 102 97 100
Groceries 96 97 100
Health 110 98 100
Housing 60 75 100
Transportation 98 100 100
Utilities 97 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Marshalltown Cost of Living Vs. IA

Marshalltown, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Marshalltown is $171,195.

  • The Median Rent in Marshalltown is $864.

  • The Median Income in Marshalltown is $68,854.

  • The Home Value To Income in Marshalltown is 2.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Marshalltown is 0.15x.

Statistic Marshalltown Iowa United States
Median Home Value $171,195 $230,258 $303,400
Median Rent $864 $949 $1,348
Median Income $68,854 $73,147 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.5x 3.1x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.15x 0.16x 0.21x
$171,195
Median Home Value
$864
Median Rent
$68,854
Median Income

Marshalltown, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Marshalltown Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marshalltown Iowa
Shampoo $1.42 $1.28
Movie $8.29 $12.13
Bowling $20.0 $18.0
Haircut $24.39 $24.26
Beauty Salon $40.5 $45.56

Detailed Marshalltown Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marshalltown Iowa
Ground Beef $6.53 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.36 $1.57
Milk $4.72 $4.67
Potatoes $5.02 $4.93
Pizza $12.12 $12.09
Beer $9.65 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.81 $3.7

Detailed Marshalltown Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marshalltown Iowa
Optometrist $159.11 $125.68
Doctor $176.92 $135.78
Dentist $107.0 $113.29

Detailed Marshalltown Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marshalltown Iowa
Gasoline $3.38 $3.46
Tire Balancing $57.22 $59.92

Detailed Marshalltown Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marshalltown Iowa
All Electricity $182.6 $193.99
Phone $187.02 $192.25

Marshalltown SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
5
Affordability
9
Diversity
9
Safety
5
Amenities
8.5
Education
5
Commute
9.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Marshalltown

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Marshalltown. 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 89, 1.0x Marshalltown.

  • Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Marshalltown.

  • Ames, IA has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Marshalltown.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Marshalltown
Des Moines, IA 212,464 89 1.0x
Ankeny, IA 70,542 101 1.1x
Ames, IA 66,112 104 1.2x
Cedar Falls, IA 40,662 92 1.0x
Johnston, IA 24,196 109 1.2x
Altoona, IA 20,592 97 1.1x
Boone, IA 12,445 88 1.0x
Pleasant Hill, IA 10,796 102 1.2x
Pella, IA 10,624 95 1.1x
Nevada, IA 6,952 91 1.0x

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