Cost of Living in Iowa

Published: September 16, 2020 12:21 am

Last Updated: September 16, 2020 9:19 am

Living in Iowa is less expensive than it is on average across the U.S. as a whole. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, goods and services in the state cost 10.8% less than they do on average nationwide. Compared with all other states, Iowa has the 11th lowest overall cost of living.

In general, living in dense, urban metro areas is more expensive than living in more rural areas. Iowa is home to eight metropolitan areas. The most expensive in the state is the Iowa City metro area, where the cost of goods and services is 6.3% lower than the national average and 4.5% higher than the statewide average.

Iowa Housing Costs

Housing is one of the largest components of cost of living. In Iowa, the typical home is worth $142,300, $62,600 less than the national median home value of $204,900. Across the state, the median price of a home built in 1939 or earlier is $95,300, while the median value of a home built in 2014 or later is $317,200.

The typical renter in Iowa spends $766 a month on housing, $257 less than the $1,023 national median monthly rent. Monthly rent for a one-bedroom in the state is $596, while the typical rent for a unit with five or more bedrooms is $900.

Across the state, 28.9% of occupied homes are rented, less than the 36.2% national average and the fourth lowest renter rate of any state.

Iowa Transportation Costs

Transportation can also be a significant component of cost of living. In Iowa, 89.5% of commuters drive to work, compared to 85.5% of commuters nationwide. On average, the typical motorist in the state drives 10,651 miles a year. Taking into account average fuel economy and the average cost of gas -- regular fuel cost an average of $2.11 a gallon in Iowa in mid-2020 -- the average motorist in the state can expect to spend $926 on gas alone in one year.

Other transportation costs, like car insurance premiums, can vary by state. In Iowa, the average car insurance premium is $1,327, less than the $1,517 national average, according to data from Insure.com. And according to data from the EPI, the average single adult in the state spends $10,598 a year on transportation.

Iowa Health Care Costs

Out-of-pocket costs and insurance premiums for health care -- assuming at least a basic level of health insurance coverage -- are relatively high in Iowa. Average health care costs for a single adult in the state total $4,531 per year, compared to the national average of $4,266. For a family of four, average annual health care costs total $13,699 -- $749 more than the comparable national average of $12,950.

Iowa Food Costs

Food is another every day expense that has a significant impact on the overall cost of living in an area. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that the cost of food varies from state to state.

In Iowa, a single adult spends an average of $2,945 on food annually, and a family of four spends $8,504 on average. For context, the nationwide average annual food expenditure is $3,240 for a single adult and $9,354 for a family of four. These estimates are calculated for a nutritionally adequate diet of food purchased at a grocery store for at home preparation.

Iowa Child Care Costs

For families, child care adds thousands of dollars to overall annual spending. The average annual cost of child care for a 4 year old child in Iowa is $7,875, well below the national average of $8,903. Similarly, it costs an average of $12,025 to care for a 4 year old child and an 8 year old child per year in Iowa compared to the national average of $15,853.

Iowa Taxes

Few expenses vary as much from state to state as taxes. Accounting for state and federal income taxes, as well as Social Security contributions and Medicare payroll, the average adult working in Iowa pays $5,812 annually in taxes -- below the national average of $6,542.

Excluding federal taxes and incorporating state and local taxes such as property and sales taxes -- the state and local tax burden in Iowa is in line with the average across the U.S. as a whole. Per capita state tax collections in Iowa come out to $3,196 per year, compared to the $3,151 average across all states.

Cost of Living by County or County Equivalent

Just as cost of living varies from state to state, it also varies from place to place within states. In Iowa, Johnson County, home to the city of Iowa City, has the highest overall cost of living for a family of four at $87,836 per year, well above the statewide average of $75,798 per year.

Meanwhile, Clinton County is the least expensive place in Iowa. The average annual cost of living for a family of four in the area is just $67,756, $8,042 less than it is across the state as a whole. Clinton is the most populous community in Clinton County.

Note that monetary figures are rounded to the nearest dollar and calculated differences may not always add up perfectly to the nearest dollar.