What is the cost of living in Pella, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pella has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Pella has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Pella ranks as #63 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Pella ranks as the #22 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Pella, check out:
Pella Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pella. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pella is 98.
The Groceries index in Pella is 95.
The Health index in Pella is 106.
The Housing index in Pella is 94.
The Transportation index in Pella is 90.
The Utilities index in Pella is 97.
| Living Expense | Pella | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 106 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 90 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 94 | 100 |
Pella 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 Pella Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Pella, 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 Pella is $351,501.
The Median Rent in Pella is $1,046.
The Median Income in Pella is $84,111.
The Home Value To Income in Pella is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pella is 0.15x.
Pella, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Pella Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Pella Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Pella Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Pella Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Pella SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pella
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pella. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.1x Pella.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Pella.
Urbandale, IA has a cost of living index of 107, 1.1x Pella.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pella |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.1x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Indianola, IA | 16,044 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 1.0x |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 11,136 | 103 | 1.0x |
