Overall
91.5
-8.5 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Iowa City, IA
Cost-of-living indicators for Iowa City, IA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 91.5
- Overall RPP
- #258
- of 387 metros
- 84.0
- Rents RPP
- $109K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Iowa City costs less than 67% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 91.5, 8.5% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 83.7.
- 91.5
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #258
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 33%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 84.0
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $109,279 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $91,509.
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 vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
92 Top 67% higher than 33% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Iowa City cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
84 RPP
- Services
Services
83.7 RPP
- Overall
Overall
91.5 RPP
- Goods
Goods
93.7 RPP
What this shows Iowa City's gap from the national average is led by services at 83.7. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Iowa City's cost comes from
Metros near Iowa City's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 94.1, rents 71.9). Iowa City is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Iowa City's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
93.7
-6.3 below avg
Services
83.7
-16.3 below avg
Rents
84.0
-16.0 below avg
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
Compare to Other Metros
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 public 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.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
