Midwest ranking
4 Iowa cities ranked by cost of living, cheapest first.
Index 70
Index 78
Sorted by cost-of-living index — lowest (most affordable) first.
| # | City | Cost index | Median rent | Median income | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | 70 | $886/mo | $66,895 | 137K | Compare → |
| 2 | Davenport | 70 | $890/mo | $59,890 | 101K | Compare → |
| 3 | Sioux City | 71 | $904/mo | $64,250 | 85K | Compare → |
| 4 | Des Moines | 78 | $995/mo | $62,378 | 213K | Compare → |
Across Iowa, Cedar Rapids is the most affordable city we track (cost index 70, with median rent around $886/mo), while Des Moines sits at the top of the range with an index of 78—roughly 12% pricier than Cedar Rapids. Use the table above to compare any Iowa city directly against Cedar Rapids.
The other end of the ranking — priciest first.