Cost of Living in Iowa

Living in Iowa: what the numbers say

Iowa charges a single flat 3.8% on state taxable income, so a nurse and a software director pay the same rate on each dollar. Flat systems are simple to predict, which makes budgeting straightforward, but they don't ease up on lower earners the way graduated brackets do.

Housing is where Iowa is won or lost. At a median home price of $238,019 against a median household income of $75,501, homes cost about 3.2× yearly income — within reach for many dual-income households. Use the home and rent calculators below to see what your income supports here.

Day-to-day costs add up too: residential electricity in Iowa runs about 13.86¢ per kilowatt-hour, one of the recurring bills the cost-of-living tools fold into a realistic monthly budget.

Frequently asked questions

Is Iowa an expensive state to live in?

It depends on your income and housing situation. Iowa has a flat 3.8% state income tax and a median home price of $238,019. The calculators on this page turn those figures into a number for your specific salary and household.

How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Iowa?

That varies with household size, whether you rent or own, and your lifestyle. Start with the Iowa paycheck calculator to see your take-home pay, then the cost-of-living tools to compare it against local expenses.

Where do these Iowa numbers come from?

Tax figures come from state and IRS sources, home values from Zillow, income and population from the US Census, and energy prices from the EIA — each shown with its date. See our methodology page for the full list and update schedule.