Overall
91.5
-8.5 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Iowa City, IA
Cost-of-living indicators for Iowa City, IA, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 26980 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #258 of 387
Iowa City, IA has a cost of living index of 91.5, meaning it's 8.5% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 6.3% less, services 16.3% less, and rents are 16.0% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $109,279 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Iowa City
Iowa City ranks #258 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the lower half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 91.5, Iowa City, IA is 8.5% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Iowa City's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus services at 83.7 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $109,279 inside Iowa City, while a household needs roughly $91,509 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 84.0 — 16.0% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Iowa City's overall index has fallen by 4.2 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.7 and services at 83.7, meaning everyday spending in Iowa City is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Iowa City Cost Index at a Glance
Iowa City all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Iowa City category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
93.7
-6.3 below avg
Services
83.7
-16.3 below avg
Rents
84.0
-16.0 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 91.5 (-8.5 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 93.7 (-6.3 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 83.7 (-16.3 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 84.0 (-16.0 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Below National Average
Services -16.3% (83.7)
Rents -16.0% (84.0)
Overall -8.5% (91.5)
Goods -6.3% (93.7)
Income Adequacy in Iowa City
Iowa City income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 91.5
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$91,509
in Iowa City, IA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$45,755
$75,000 nationally
$68,632
$125,000 nationally
$114,386
$150,000 nationally
$137,264
$200,000 nationally
$183,018
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 4.2 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.7 |
| 2009 | 95.0 |
| 2010 | 97.2 |
| 2011 | 96.2 |
| 2012 | 96.5 |
| 2013 | 97.1 |
| 2014 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 95.0 |
| 2016 | 95.4 |
| 2017 | 94.7 |
| 2018 | 94.8 |
| 2019 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.6 |
| 2021 | 93.0 |
| 2022 | 91.3 |
| 2023 | 91.9 |
| 2024 | 91.5 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Iowa City, IA's index of 91.5.
Other IA Metros
Related Data for Iowa City
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Iowa City area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Iowa City metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Iowa City
School Districts
NCES school data for Iowa City area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Iowa City area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Iowa City, IA? ▼
Iowa City, IA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 91.5, meaning it is 8.5% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.7, services at 83.7, and rents at 84.0. It ranks #258 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Iowa City, IA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $91,509 in Iowa City, IA. Conversely, $100K earned in Iowa City, IA has the purchasing power of $109,279 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Iowa City, IA? ▼
Rents in Iowa City, IA are indexed at 84.0, which is 16.0% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Iowa City, IA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Iowa City, IA's overall cost index changed by -4.2 points (from 95.7 to 91.5). The cost of living has been declining.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Iowa City, IA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Evansville, Chattanooga, Toledo. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Iowa City, IA's 91.5.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
