Waukee, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Waukee, IA Summary

Cost of living in Waukee research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Waukee is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Iowa, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Waukee is 106, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Waukee is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Waukee ranks as the #80 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.

  • Waukee ranks as the #3,278 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Waukee is $347,631.

  • The median income in Waukee is $106,728.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
106
Waukee's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Waukee, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waukee has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Iowa, Waukee has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Iowa's index of 90.

The standard of living in Waukee ranks as #80 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Waukee ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Waukee, check out:

80 out of 85
In Iowa
3,278 out of 6,489
In America

Waukee Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waukee. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Waukee is 96.

  • The Groceries index in Waukee is 100.

  • The Health index in Waukee is 95.

  • The Housing index in Waukee is 132.

  • The Transportation index in Waukee is 89.

  • The Utilities index in Waukee is 85.

Living Expense Waukee Iowa National Average
Overall 106 90 100
Services 96 96 100
Groceries 100 97 100
Health 95 99 100
Housing 132 75 100
Transportation 89 99 100
Utilities 85 94 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Waukee Cost of Living Vs. IA

Waukee, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Waukee is $347,631.

  • The Median Rent in Waukee is $1,290.

  • The Median Income in Waukee is $106,728.

  • The Home Value To Income in Waukee is 3.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Waukee is 0.15x.

Statistic Waukee Iowa United States
Median Home Value $347,631 $230,258 $303,400
Median Rent $1,290 $949 $1,348
Median Income $106,728 $73,147 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.3x 3.1x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.15x 0.16x 0.21x
$347,631
Median Home Value
$1,290
Median Rent
$106,728
Median Income

Waukee, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Waukee Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Waukee Iowa
Shampoo $1.35 $1.28
Movie $11.17 $12.13
Bowling $20.87 $18
Haircut $20.63 $24.26
Beauty Salon $41.0 $45.56

Detailed Waukee Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Waukee Iowa
Ground Beef $6.36 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.38 $1.57
Milk $4.82 $4.67
Potatoes $4.81 $4.93
Pizza $11.84 $12.09
Beer $9.82 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.69 $3.7

Detailed Waukee Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Waukee Iowa
Optometrist $125.17 $125.68
Doctor $129.05 $135.78
Dentist $96.6 $113.29

Detailed Waukee Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Waukee Iowa
Gasoline $3.19 $3.46
Tire Balancing $52.49 $59.92

Detailed Waukee Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Waukee Iowa
All Electricity $154.71 $193.99
Phone $186.87 $192.25

Waukee SnackAbility

9
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
7
Safety
8.5
Amenities
8
Education
9
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waukee

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waukee. 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 89, 0.8x Waukee.

  • Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.0x Waukee.

  • West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Waukee.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Waukee
Des Moines, IA 212,464 89 0.8x
Ankeny, IA 70,542 101 1.0x
West Des Moines, IA 69,893 102 1.0x
Urbandale, IA 46,026 103 1.0x
Johnston, IA 24,196 109 1.0x
Clive, IA 18,776 109 1.0x
Grimes, IA 15,810 99 0.9x
Norwalk, IA 13,610 99 0.9x
Pleasant Hill, IA 10,796 102 1.0x
Adel, IA 6,259 94 0.9x

Articles About Iowa

Enjoy The Snack?