Cost of living in Iowa
Prices in Iowa are 12.2% below the US average (49th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,238 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6%.
Price levels in Iowa
| BEA RPP 2024 | Iowa | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.8 | −12.2% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 65.3 | −34.7% |
| Utilities | 83.3 | −16.7% |
| Other services | 92.9 | −7.1% |
Metros in Iowa
Metros whose principal city is in Iowa. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 758,539 | 91.7 | $1,360 | $177 | $1,376 |
| Davenport, IA-IL | 380,452 | 89.1 | $1,056 | $168 | $1,662 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 279,285 | 89.0 | $1,054 | $166 | $1,715 |
| Iowa City, IA | 182,711 | 91.5 | $1,180 | $177 | $1,519 |
| Waterloo, IA | 169,189 | 87.1 | $1,096 | $168 | $1,683 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 145,738 | 86.5 | $1,194 | $166 | $1,555 |
| Ames, IA | 128,090 | 88.8 | $1,061 | $170 | $1,577 |
| Dubuque, IA | 99,381 | 87.3 | $1,131 | $166 | $1,630 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Iowa: Omaha, NE-IA.
Taxes in Iowa (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Iowa income tax | $1,288 | $2,238 | $3,948 | $3,336 |
| Iowa payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,422 | $4,946 | $7,442 | $8,487 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Iowa’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,238 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Iowa
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $160 | $10,148 | $106 |
| Toddler (2) | $138 | $8,745 | $104 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $138 | $8,745 | $104 |
| School-age (5–12) | $110 | $6,996 | $101 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $148 a week in Floyd County to $185 in Dallas County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 99 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | $262,100 | $4,396 | 1.68% |
| Linn County | $214,300 | $3,547 | 1.66% |
| Pottawattamie County | $195,700 | $3,067 | 1.57% |
| Johnson County | $308,600 | $4,681 | 1.52% |
| Black Hawk County | $188,900 | $2,842 | 1.50% |
| Benton County | $208,200 | $2,727 | 1.31% |
| Bremer County | $219,600 | $2,824 | 1.29% |
| Dubuque County | $237,300 | $2,919 | 1.23% |
| Guthrie County | $180,100 | $2,199 | 1.22% |
| Grundy County | $198,800 | $2,273 | 1.14% |
Five highest and five lowest of 22 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Iowa
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 59,199 in, 69,493 out (net −10,294).
- Illinois6,721 ±1,744
- Nebraska6,626 ±1,928
- Minnesota5,965 ±1,581
- Arizona4,596 ±2,154
- Wisconsin4,117 ±1,324
- Texas3,755 ±1,433
- Pennsylvania3,205 ±1,713
- New Jersey2,427 ±1,908
Frequently asked questions
Is Iowa expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Iowa’s overall price level at 87.8 in 2024 (US = 100), the 49th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 65.3 and goods 93.7.
Does Iowa have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,238 in Iowa income tax under 2026 law (3.0% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Iowa?+
The state rate is 6% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Iowa?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Cedar Rapids, IA leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,715), and Des Moines, IA the least ($1,376).