A+
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
41%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Clinton Iowa National
Cost of living8690100
Goods & Services9796100
Groceries9897100
Health care9199100
Housing5973100
Transportation10498100
Utilities9496100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Clinton, IA

Knowing the cost of living in Clinton allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Clinton stands at 86, marking it 14% lower than the national average.

Clinton housing costs are 41.2% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Clinton residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Clinton?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 68 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Clinton and this is how they responded. 21% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 79% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Clinton Affordable?

Is Clinton an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Clinton is 45.4% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 31.3% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Clinton has a median household income of $46,066, which is 16.7% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Clinton?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Clinton starts at 6% and the income tax rates start at 0.33%.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Clinton, the transportation index is 3.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Clinton cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Clinton is 4% lower than the Iowa average
  • The cost of living in Clinton is 14% lower than the national average
  • Clinton housing is 41% lower than the national average
  • Iowa general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Iowa state income tax is 69% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Clinton

See all the best places to live around Clinton

Compare Clinton, IA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$58,094$4,841$1,355$1,743
      Renters$25,087$2,091$585$753
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Clinton, IA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Clinton homeowners, is $58,094. This would allow for a maximum of $1,355 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $25,087 which would result in a maximum of $585 to be spent on rental costs.

      Iowa Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Iowa 6% 7%

      Iowa Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Iowa 4.4% 6%

      Goods & Services

      Item Clinton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.86$24.261.7%
      Beauty Salon $34.11$45.5625.1%
      Toothpaste $3.59$3.703.0%
      Shampoo $1.36$1.286.5%
      Movie $8.68$12.1328.4%
      Bowling $15.39$18.0014.5%

      Groceries

      Item Clinton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.38$5.847.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5710.8%
      Milk $4.77$4.672.1%
      Potatoes $4.76$4.933.6%
      Pizza $12.46$12.093.1%
      Beer $9.93$10.414.6%

      Health Care

      Item Clinton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $127.39$125.681.4%
      Doctor $130.00$135.784.3%
      Dentist $85.78$113.2924.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.82$10.651.6%
      Lipitor $498.96$468.606.5%

      Housing

      Item Clinton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $100,800.00$184,700.0045.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,665.29$2,346.6929.0%
      Apartment Rent $652.00$949.0031.3%

      Transportation

      Item Clinton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.44$3.460.5%
      Tire Balancing $68.44$59.9214.2%

      Utilities

      Item Clinton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $176.50$193.999.0%
      Phone $187.56$192.252.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Andover, IA1608217.5%
      Charlotte, IA3788415.9%
      Lyndon, IL6048317.4%
      Low Moor, IA3268514.7%
      Prophetstown, IL1,9658316.7%
      Clinton, IA25,2908614.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mount Pleasant, MI25,2908911.3%
      Salem, VA25,2901010.6%
      Prince Edward County, ON25,289n/a 
      El Cerrito, CA25,280201100.8%
      Franklin, IN25,276936.8%
      Clinton, IA25,2908614.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.