What is the cost of living in Pleasant Hill, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pleasant Hill has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Pleasant Hill has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Pleasant Hill ranks as #72 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Pleasant Hill ranks as the #13 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Pleasant Hill, check out:
Pleasant Hill Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pleasant Hill. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pleasant Hill is 97.
The Groceries index in Pleasant Hill is 96.
The Health index in Pleasant Hill is 115.
The Housing index in Pleasant Hill is 97.
The Transportation index in Pleasant Hill is 93.
The Utilities index in Pleasant Hill is 99.
| Living Expense | Pleasant Hill | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 115 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 94 | 100 |
Pleasant Hill 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 Pleasant Hill Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Pleasant Hill, 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 Pleasant Hill is $299,730.
The Median Rent in Pleasant Hill is $1,215.
The Median Income in Pleasant Hill is $90,508.
The Home Value To Income in Pleasant Hill is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pleasant Hill is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Pleasant Hill | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $299,730 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,215 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,508 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.3x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Pleasant Hill, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Pleasant Hill Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Pleasant Hill | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.35 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.17 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.87 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.63 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Pleasant Hill Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Pleasant Hill | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.36 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.82 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.81 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.84 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.69 | $3.7 |
Detailed Pleasant Hill Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Pleasant Hill | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $129.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.6 | $113.29 |
Detailed Pleasant Hill Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Pleasant Hill | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.19 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.49 | $59.92 |
Detailed Pleasant Hill Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Pleasant Hill | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $154.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.87 | $192.25 |
Pleasant Hill SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pleasant Hill
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pleasant Hill. 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 90, 0.9x Pleasant Hill.
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Pleasant Hill.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Pleasant Hill.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pleasant Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 212,421 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.0x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.0x |
| 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 |








