Waukee, IA Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Waukee. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Waukee compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Waukee, Iowa

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:

104 Cost of living index 1.0x higher vs US
#75 Cheapest in Iowa (of 85)
#2,973 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$338,880 Median home value
$1,383 Median rent
$101,029 Median income
Not sure Waukee fits your budget? Try our place-match quiz →

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 104, which is 1.0x 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 #75 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Waukee ranks as the #10 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Waukee, check out:

Waukee Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

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

  • The Services index in Waukee is 101.

  • The Groceries index in Waukee is 97.

  • The Health index in Waukee is 129.

  • The Housing index in Waukee is 97.

  • The Transportation index in Waukee is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Waukee is 91.

Living Expense Waukee Iowa National Average
Overall 104 90 100
Services 101 99 100
Groceries 97 95 100
Health 129 75 100
Housing 97 97 100
Transportation 98 93 100
Utilities 91 94 100

Waukee Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages

Services
Waukee 101
Iowa avg 99
Groceries
Waukee 97
Iowa avg 95
Health
Waukee 129
Iowa avg 75
Housing
Waukee 97
Iowa avg 97
Transportation
Waukee 98
Iowa avg 93
Utilities
Waukee 91
Iowa avg 94

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 Waukee Get matched →

Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Waukee, IA Housing Cost Breakdown

$338,880Median Home Value
$1,383Median Rent
$101,029Median Income

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 Waukee is $338,880.

  • The Median Rent in Waukee is $1,383.

  • The Median Income in Waukee is $101,029.

  • The Home Value To Income in Waukee is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Waukee is 0.16x.

Statistic Waukee Iowa United States
Median Home Value $338,880 $231,584 $332,700
Median Rent $1,383 $972 $1,413
Median Income $101,029 $75,059 $80,734
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.1x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.16x 0.21x

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

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

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 90, 0.9x Waukee.

  • Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Waukee.

  • West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Waukee.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Waukee
Des Moines, IA 212,421 90 0.9x
Ankeny, IA 72,615 106 1.0x
West Des Moines, IA 71,083 103 1.0x
Urbandale, IA 46,595 107 1.0x
Johnston, IA 24,384 110 1.1x
Clive, IA 19,012 110 1.1x
Grimes, IA 16,366 103 1.0x
Norwalk, IA 14,183 101 1.0x
Pleasant Hill, IA 11,136 103 1.0x
Adel, IA 6,430 97 0.9x