What is the cost of living in Urbandale, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Urbandale has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Urbandale has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Urbandale ranks as #81 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Urbandale ranks as the #4 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Urbandale, check out:
Urbandale Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Urbandale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Urbandale is 99.
The Groceries index in Urbandale is 98.
The Health index in Urbandale is 124.
The Housing index in Urbandale is 97.
The Transportation index in Urbandale is 97.
The Utilities index in Urbandale is 96.
| Living Expense | Urbandale | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 124 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 94 | 100 |
Urbandale 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 Urbandale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Urbandale, 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 Urbandale is $349,851.
The Median Rent in Urbandale is $1,211.
The Median Income in Urbandale is $112,795.
The Home Value To Income in Urbandale is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Urbandale is 0.13x.
Urbandale, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Urbandale Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Urbandale Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Urbandale Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Urbandale Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Urbandale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Urbandale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Urbandale. 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, 0.8x Urbandale.
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Urbandale.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Urbandale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Urbandale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 212,421 | 90 | 0.8x |
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.0x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 0.9x |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 11,136 | 103 | 1.0x |
