Iowa City, Iowa
Living in Iowa City, Iowa is about 12% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 88 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,757 a month, 9% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.82 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 41% of the area's $79,021 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.82
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,757
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$12.79
Combo meal
Electricity
17.06¢
per kWh · ~$154/mo
Car Insurance
$116/mo
$1,389/yr
Median Household Income
$79,021
41.1% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,389 in Iowa City. Compare rates:
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Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what Iowa City residents actually pay.
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Avg rent $1,757/mo in Iowa City. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$12.79
Casual Dining
$23.88
Monthly Spend
$427.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Iowa City?
Average 1BR: $1,441/mo · 2BR: $2,073/mo
Iowa City Cost of Living FAQ
Is Iowa City, IA expensive to live in?
Iowa City has a cost of living index of 88, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 12% cheaper than average. It is the 4th most affordable of the 8 Iowa cities we track.
What is the average rent in Iowa City, IA?
Typical rent in Iowa City is $1,757 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 9% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,441 and two bedrooms about $2,073. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Iowa City?
Rent in Iowa City rose 7.9% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Iowa City?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.82 a gallon in Iowa City as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Iowa. That is 4% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Iowa City?
Homes in Iowa pay an average of 17.1 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Iowa City is about $154.
How much is car insurance in Iowa City?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,389 a year in Iowa, or about $116 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Iowa City?
Median household income in the Iowa City area is $79,021 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $32,455 a year, or 41% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,846 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Iowa City compare with the rest of Iowa?
Rent in Iowa City is 43% above the $1,226 average across the 8 Iowa cities we track, and its cost of living index of 88 compares with a state average of 87.
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