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 84, 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 #11 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Ottumwa ranks as the #74 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Ottumwa, check out:
Ottumwa Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ottumwa. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ottumwa is 96.
The Groceries index in Ottumwa is 100.
The Health index in Ottumwa is 51.
The Housing index in Ottumwa is 98.
The Transportation index in Ottumwa is 95.
The Utilities index in Ottumwa is 96.
| Living Expense | Ottumwa | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 51 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 94 | 100 |
Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Ottumwa is $121,424.
The Median Rent in Ottumwa is $921.
The Median Income in Ottumwa is $61,103.
The Home Value To Income in Ottumwa is 2.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ottumwa is 0.18x.
Ottumwa, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Ottumwa Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Ottumwa Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Ottumwa Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Ottumwa Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Ottumwa SnackAbility
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 100, 1.2x Ottumwa.
Fairfield, IA has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Ottumwa.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ottumwa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oskaloosa, IA | 11,504 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Pella, IA | 10,720 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Fairfield, IA | 9,456 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Mount Pleasant, IA | 8,951 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Knoxville, IA | 7,473 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Washington, IA | 7,290 | 90 | 1.1x |
| Centerville, IA | 5,372 | 82 | 1.0x |
