What is the cost of living in Spirit Lake, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Spirit Lake has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Spirit Lake has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Spirit Lake ranks as #61 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Spirit Lake ranks as the #24 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Spirit Lake, check out:
Spirit Lake Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Spirit Lake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Spirit Lake is 99.
The Groceries index in Spirit Lake is 99.
The Health index in Spirit Lake is 91.
The Housing index in Spirit Lake is 95.
The Transportation index in Spirit Lake is 108.
The Utilities index in Spirit Lake is 100.
| Living Expense | Spirit Lake | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 91 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 94 | 100 |
Spirit Lake 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 Spirit Lake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Spirit Lake, 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 Spirit Lake is $328,917.
The Median Rent in Spirit Lake is $911.
The Median Income in Spirit Lake is $65,720.
The Home Value To Income in Spirit Lake is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Spirit Lake is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Spirit Lake | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $328,917 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $911 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $65,720 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Spirit Lake, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Spirit Lake Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Spirit Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.06 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.06 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.42 | $45.56 |
Detailed Spirit Lake Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Spirit Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.78 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.68 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.97 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.74 | $3.7 |
Detailed Spirit Lake Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Spirit Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $144.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $181.22 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Spirit Lake Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Spirit Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.83 | $59.92 |
Detailed Spirit Lake Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Spirit Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.27 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.1 | $192.25 |
Spirit Lake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Spirit Lake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Spirit Lake. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Worthington, MN has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Spirit Lake.
Spencer, IA has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Spirit Lake.
Fairmont, MN has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x Spirit Lake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Spirit Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worthington, MN | 13,780 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Spencer, IA | 11,400 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Fairmont, MN | 10,296 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Estherville, IA | 5,839 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Sheldon, IA | 5,474 | 88 | 0.9x |
