What is the cost of living in Polk City, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Polk City has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Polk City has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Polk City ranks as #85 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Polk City ranks as the #0 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Polk City, check out:
Polk City Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Polk City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Polk City is 98.
The Groceries index in Polk City is 94.
The Health index in Polk City is 154.
The Housing index in Polk City is 96.
The Transportation index in Polk City is 98.
The Utilities index in Polk City is 89.
| Living Expense | Polk City | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 154 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 89 | 94 | 100 |
Polk 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 Polk City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Polk 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 Polk City is $427,586.
The Median Rent in Polk City is $782.
The Median Income in Polk City is $164,389.
The Home Value To Income in Polk City is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Polk City is 0.06x.
