Cost of Living in Dubuque, IA
Dubuque, IA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Dubuque, IA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Dubuque, IA?
With a price level of 87.3 (U.S. average = 100), Dubuque, IA is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 36% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 19% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 7% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Dubuque, IA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.3 | −12.7% |
| Housing | 64.0 | −36.0% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 81.2 | −18.8% |
| Other services | 92.9 | −7.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Dubuque, IA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $774 | $30,960/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $841 | $33,640/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,077 | $43,080/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,450 | $58,000/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,807 | $72,280/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Dubuque, IA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Dubuque, IA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,900 | $29,548 |
| $60,000 | $52,400 | $42,944 |
| $80,000 | $69,900 | $56,000 |
| $100,000 | $87,300 | $67,580 |
| $150,000 | $131,000 | $96,478 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Iowa 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Dubuque, IA's median wage of $48,750 takes home about $3,346 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $841, which is 25% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,505 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Dubuque, IA
- Federal income tax$3,670
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,023
- Medicare (1.45%)$707
- Iowa income tax$1,201
- Take-home pay$40,150
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Pay and living costs in Iowa cities
Half of Iowa’s 1,559,240 workers earn less than $48,540 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,570–$70,290 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Ames, IA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Omaha, NE is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | $49,660 | 91.9 | $1,144 | 34% | $2,260 | $44,441 |
| Des Moines, IA | $51,820 | 91.7 | $1,092 | 31% | $2,450 | $46,346 |
| Davenport, IA | $48,550 | 89.1 | $928 | 28% | $2,405 | $44,900 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $49,360 | 89.0 | $800 | 24% | $2,585 | $45,656 |
| Iowa City, IA | $50,060 | 91.5 | $932 | 27% | $2,497 | $44,971 |
| Waterloo, IA | $47,430 | 87.1 | $793 | 24% | $2,469 | $44,958 |
| Sioux City, IA | $47,030 | 86.5 | $925 | 29% | $2,311 | $44,918 |
| Dubuque, IA | $48,750 | 87.3 | $841 | 25% | $2,505 | $45,976 |
| Ames, IA | $50,220 | 88.8 | $975 | 28% | $2,465 | $46,465 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Dubuque, IA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | 87.3 | $841 | $48,750 | 58,470 |
| Albany, GA | 87.7 | $1,006 | $43,620 | 58,390 |
| Altoona, PA | 89.5 | $948 | $44,270 | 58,650 |
| Wheeling, WV | 88.3 | $816 | $44,250 | 58,130 |
| Kingston, NY | 100.7 | $1,386 | $50,020 | 59,140 |
| Sebastian, FL | 98.3 | $1,222 | $45,480 | 57,620 |
| Texarkana, TX | 84.0 | $852 | $43,200 | 57,580 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dubuque, IA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Dubuque, IA metro area are 87.3% of the U.S. average, with housing at 64.0%. It is the #349 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Dubuque, IA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,397 in Dubuque, IA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,750.
Can you afford Dubuque, IA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,750 median wage takes home about $3,346 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $841 would take 25% of that.
How much is rent in Dubuque, IA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Dubuque, IA are $774 for a studio, $841 for one bedroom, $1,077 for two bedrooms and $1,450 for three bedrooms, including utilities.