Cost of Living in Iowa City, IA
Iowa City, IA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
91.5
U.S. average = 100 · #258 of 387
Median wage
$50,060
all jobs · $3,429/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$932
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Iowa City, IA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Iowa City, IA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.5 | −8.5% |
| Housing | 84.0 | −16.0% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 83.7 | −16.3% |
| Other services | 92.9 | −7.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Iowa City, IA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $861 | $34,440/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $932 | $37,280/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,118 | $44,720/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,536 | $61,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,832 | $73,280/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Iowa City, IA
Your take-home pay
$41,153
per year · effective tax rate 17.8%
$3,429Monthly
$1,715Twice a month
$1,583Every 2 weeks
$19.78Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,827
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,104
- Medicare (1.45%)$726
- Iowa income tax$1,250
- Take-home pay$41,153
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Highest-paying jobs in Iowa City, IA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iowa City, IA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Iowa City, IA metro area are 91.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 84.0%. It is the #258 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Iowa City, IA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,905 in Iowa City, IA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $50,060.
How much is rent in Iowa City, IA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Iowa City, IA are $861 for a studio, $932 for one bedroom, $1,118 for two bedrooms and $1,536 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Iowa City, IA
Management Occupations
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $107,570
- General and Operations Manager — $81,120
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $78,850
- Accountant and Auditor — $75,100
- Human Resources Specialist — $71,120
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $63,790
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $107,680
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $81,580
- Biological Technician — $48,050
Community and Social Service Occupations
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,100
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,870
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $36,850
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $30,720
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $30,340
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $142,530
- Registered Nurse — $85,940
- Pharmacy Technician — $43,500
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $43,550
- Nursing Assistant — $39,330
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,630
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,910
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,200
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,760
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,030
- Bartender — $21,900
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $39,580
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $37,660
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $29,170
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $67,440
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,290
- Retail Salesperson — $29,940
- Cashier — $29,080
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $66,430
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $50,130
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $50,050
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $49,220
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other — $47,600
- Office Clerks, General — $46,480
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $45,390
- Customer Service Representative — $42,340
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Construction Laborer — $47,940
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $47,760
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,960
- Light Truck Driver — $42,030
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,060
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,440