What is the cost of living in Red Oak, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Red Oak has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Red Oak has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Red Oak ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Red Oak ranks as the #74 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Red Oak, check out:
Red Oak Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Red Oak. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Red Oak is 97.
The Groceries index in Red Oak is 95.
The Health index in Red Oak is 52.
The Housing index in Red Oak is 98.
The Transportation index in Red Oak is 97.
The Utilities index in Red Oak is 97.
| Living Expense | Red Oak | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 52 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 94 | 100 |
Red Oak 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 Red Oak Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Red Oak, 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 Red Oak is $136,873.
The Median Rent in Red Oak is $812.
The Median Income in Red Oak is $50,109.
The Home Value To Income in Red Oak is 2.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Red Oak is 0.19x.
Red Oak, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Red Oak Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Red Oak Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Red Oak Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Red Oak Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Red Oak SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Red Oak
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Red Oak. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bellevue, NE has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Red Oak.
Bartlett, IL has a cost of living index of 119, 1.4x Red Oak.
Papillion, NE has a cost of living index of 102, 1.2x Red Oak.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Red Oak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, NE | 64,510 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Bartlett, IL | 40,501 | 119 | 1.4x |
| Papillion, NE | 25,244 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Chalco, NE | 10,595 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Maryville, MO | 10,428 | 89 | 1.1x |
| Plattsmouth, NE | 6,731 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Ralston, NE | 6,472 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Glenwood, IA | 5,144 | 93 | 1.1x |
