Ottumwa, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Ottumwa, IA Summary

Cost of living in Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa is 83, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Ottumwa is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Ottumwa ranks as the #8 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.

  • Ottumwa ranks as the #306 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Ottumwa is $120,790.

  • The median income in Ottumwa is $56,994.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
83
Ottumwa's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Ottumwa, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ottumwa has an overall cost of living index of 83, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Iowa, Ottumwa has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Iowa's index of 90.

The standard of living in Ottumwa ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Ottumwa ranks as the #77 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Ottumwa, check out:

8 out of 85
In Iowa
306 out of 6,489
In America

Ottumwa Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

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

  • The Services index in Ottumwa is 102.

  • The Groceries index in Ottumwa is 97.

  • The Health index in Ottumwa is 96.

  • The Housing index in Ottumwa is 54.

  • The Transportation index in Ottumwa is 105.

  • The Utilities index in Ottumwa is 86.

Living Expense Ottumwa Iowa National Average
Overall 83 90 100
Services 102 96 100
Groceries 97 97 100
Health 96 99 100
Housing 54 75 100
Transportation 105 99 100
Utilities 86 94 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Ottumwa Cost of Living Vs. IA

Ottumwa, 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 Ottumwa is $120,790.

  • The Median Rent in Ottumwa is $956.

  • The Median Income in Ottumwa is $56,994.

  • The Home Value To Income in Ottumwa is 2.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Ottumwa is 0.2x.

Statistic Ottumwa Iowa United States
Median Home Value $120,790 $230,258 $303,400
Median Rent $956 $949 $1,348
Median Income $56,994 $73,147 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.1x 3.1x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.2x 0.16x 0.21x
$120,790
Median Home Value
$956
Median Rent
$56,994
Median Income

Ottumwa, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Ottumwa Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Ottumwa Iowa
Shampoo $1.3 $1.28
Movie $11.85 $12.13
Bowling $18.5 $18
Haircut $27.83 $24.26
Beauty Salon $46.89 $45.56

Detailed Ottumwa Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Ottumwa Iowa
Ground Beef $5.67 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.35 $1.57
Milk $4.63 $4.67
Potatoes $4.73 $4.93
Pizza $11.49 $12.09
Beer $9.86 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.82 $3.7

Detailed Ottumwa Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Ottumwa Iowa
Optometrist $134.2 $125.68
Doctor $140.02 $135.78
Dentist $93.33 $113.29

Detailed Ottumwa Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Ottumwa Iowa
Gasoline $3.37 $3.46
Tire Balancing $72.71 $59.92

Detailed Ottumwa Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Ottumwa Iowa
All Electricity $153.7 $193.99
Phone $186.06 $192.25

Ottumwa SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
5
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
9.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ottumwa

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ottumwa. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Oskaloosa, IA has a cost of living index of 84, 1.0x Ottumwa.

  • Pella, IA has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Ottumwa.

  • Fairfield, IA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.1x Ottumwa.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Ottumwa
Oskaloosa, IA 11,492 84 1.0x
Pella, IA 10,624 95 1.1x
Fairfield, IA 9,438 90 1.1x
Mount Pleasant, IA 9,093 91 1.1x
Knoxville, IA 7,493 84 1.0x
Washington, IA 7,314 93 1.1x
Centerville, IA 5,377 81 1.0x

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