What is the cost of living in Washington, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Washington has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Washington has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Washington ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Washington ranks as the #46 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Washington, check out:
Washington Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Washington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Washington is 96.
The Groceries index in Washington is 96.
The Health index in Washington is 73.
The Housing index in Washington is 99.
The Transportation index in Washington is 95.
The Utilities index in Washington is 95.
| Living Expense | Washington | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 94 | 100 |
Washington 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 Washington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Washington, 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 Washington is $190,721.
The Median Rent in Washington is $968.
The Median Income in Washington is $55,373.
The Home Value To Income in Washington is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Washington is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Washington | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $190,721 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $968 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,373 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Washington, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Washington Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Washington | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.3 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.85 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.89 | $45.56 |
Detailed Washington Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Washington | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.67 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.73 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.86 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.82 | $3.7 |
Detailed Washington Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Washington | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $134.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $140.02 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $93.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Washington Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Washington | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.71 | $59.92 |
Detailed Washington Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Washington | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $153.7 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.06 | $192.25 |
Washington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Washington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Washington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Cedar Rapids, IA has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Washington.
Ottumwa, IA has a cost of living index of 84, 0.9x Washington.
Burlington, IA has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Washington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 137,264 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Ottumwa, IA | 25,430 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Burlington, IA | 23,728 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Muscatine, IA | 23,489 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Coralville, IA | 23,234 | 106 | 1.2x |
| North Liberty, IA | 21,125 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Oskaloosa, IA | 11,504 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Fairfield, IA | 9,456 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Mount Pleasant, IA | 8,951 | 88 | 1.0x |
