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?
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.
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
Highest-paying jobs in Dubuque, IA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
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.
All salaries in Dubuque, IA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $92,530
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $74,140
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $57,840
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $30,410
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $76,790
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $41,580
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $38,090
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,510
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,610
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,680
- Bartender — $21,720
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,060
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $63,560
- Retail Salesperson — $30,960
- Cashier — $30,500
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $64,070
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $47,630
- Customer Service Representative — $46,670
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $45,430
- Office Clerks, General — $44,980
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Construction Laborer — $48,800
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $54,360
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,130
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $50,320
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,470
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $45,960
- Light Truck Driver — $41,810
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,850