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
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
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.
Waukee, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Waukee Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Waukee Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Waukee Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Waukee Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Waukee SnackAbility
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 |








