Cost of Living in Iowa
Based on 3 cities we track in Iowa.
Cost of living in Iowa is shaped mostly by rent across the 3 cities we track there. A one-bedroom apartment runs around $777 a month — 28% lower than the $1,076 median across the 51 states we track.
Median household income across those cities is $64,497, about the same as the $66,029 median across the states we track. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.
State Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$777
Median Home Value
$177,100
Median Income
$64,497
Avg Temperature
49.3°F
Medians across the Iowa cities we track — not a statewide population-weighted figure.
State Taxes
State Sales Tax
6%
State Income Tax (top rate)
Up to 3.80%
Cities in Iowa
Compare Iowa with
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Iowa cost of living — FAQ
- Is Iowa expensive to live in?
- Iowa is among the more affordable of the 51 states we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $777 ranks #48 of 51 and is 28% lower than the $1,076 median.
- What is the average rent in Iowa?
- Across the 3 cities we track in Iowa, average rent runs a studio around $726, a one-bedroom around $777, a two-bedroom around $997, a three-bedroom around $1,334 per month (US Census ACS).
- What is the median home price in Iowa?
- The median home value across the cities we track in Iowa is $177,100 — 34% lower than the $270,100 median across the states we track.
- Does Iowa have a state income tax?
- Yes — Iowa's top state income tax rate is 3.80% (most filers pay less than the top rate). Its state sales tax rate is 6%; local jurisdictions may add more.
- How much do you need to earn to live in Iowa?
- To keep a one-bedroom rent of $777 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year. Median household income across the cities we track in Iowa is $64,497.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).