What is the cost of living in Mason City, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mason City has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Mason City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Mason City ranks as #20 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Mason City ranks as the #65 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Mason City, check out:
Mason City Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mason City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mason City is 94.
The Groceries index in Mason City is 95.
The Health index in Mason City is 68.
The Housing index in Mason City is 96.
The Transportation index in Mason City is 97.
The Utilities index in Mason City is 93.
| Living Expense | Mason City | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 68 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 94 | 100 |
Mason 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 Mason City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mason 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 Mason City is $154,095.
The Median Rent in Mason City is $882.
The Median Income in Mason City is $64,804.
The Home Value To Income in Mason City is 2.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mason City is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Mason City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $154,095 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $882 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $64,804 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.4x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Mason City, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Mason City Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Mason City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.32 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $10.28 | $18 |
| Haircut | $32.91 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mason City Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Mason City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.94 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.74 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mason City Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Mason City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $87.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $153.18 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $105.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mason City Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Mason City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.39 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.83 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mason City Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Mason City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $209.45 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.72 | $192.25 |
