What is the cost of living in Iola, KS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Iola has an overall cost of living index of 83, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kansas, Iola has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Kansas's index of 91.
The standard of living in Iola ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Iola ranks as the #57 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.
For more reading on life in Iola, check out:
Iola Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Iola. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Iola is 95.
The Groceries index in Iola is 97.
The Health index in Iola is 52.
The Housing index in Iola is 98.
The Transportation index in Iola is 96.
The Utilities index in Iola is 88.
| Living Expense | Iola | Kansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 83 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 52 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 88 | 95 | 100 |
Iola Cost Of Living Compared To Kansas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Kansas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Iola Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Iola, KS Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Kansas, 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 Iola is $87,714.
The Median Rent in Iola is $767.
The Median Income in Iola is $54,221.
The Home Value To Income in Iola is 1.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Iola is 0.17x.
Iola, KS Costs By Category
Detailed Iola Services costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Iola Groceries costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Iola Health costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Iola Transportation costs vs. Kansas
Iola SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Iola
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Iola. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ottawa, KS has a cost of living index of 88, 1.1x Iola.
Parsons, KS has a cost of living index of 79, 1.0x Iola.
Chanute, KS has a cost of living index of 79, 1.0x Iola.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Iola |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa, KS | 12,678 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Parsons, KS | 9,425 | 79 | 1.0x |
| Chanute, KS | 8,598 | 79 | 1.0x |
| Fort Scott, KS | 7,555 | 80 | 1.0x |
