What is the cost of living in Storm Lake, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Storm Lake has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Storm Lake has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Storm Lake ranks as #42 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Storm Lake ranks as the #43 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Storm Lake, check out:
Storm Lake Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Storm Lake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Storm Lake is 97.
The Groceries index in Storm Lake is 96.
The Health index in Storm Lake is 80.
The Housing index in Storm Lake is 98.
The Transportation index in Storm Lake is 89.
The Utilities index in Storm Lake is 93.
| Living Expense | Storm Lake | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 80 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 89 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 94 | 100 |
Storm 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 Storm Lake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Storm 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 Storm Lake is $177,022.
The Median Rent in Storm Lake is $898.
The Median Income in Storm Lake is $62,765.
The Home Value To Income in Storm Lake is 2.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Storm Lake is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Storm Lake | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $177,022 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $898 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,765 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.8x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Storm Lake, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Storm Lake Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Storm Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.42 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.29 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.39 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.5 | $45.56 |
Detailed Storm Lake Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Storm Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.53 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.36 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.72 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.02 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.12 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.65 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Storm Lake Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Storm Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $176.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $107.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Storm Lake Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Storm Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.22 | $59.92 |
Detailed Storm Lake Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Storm Lake | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.6 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.02 | $192.25 |
Storm Lake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Storm Lake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Storm Lake. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Spencer, IA has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Storm Lake.
Carroll, IA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Storm Lake.
Denison, IA has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Storm Lake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Storm Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer, IA | 11,400 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Carroll, IA | 10,208 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Denison, IA | 8,260 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Sheldon, IA | 5,474 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Cherokee, IA | 5,154 | 82 | 0.9x |
