A-
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
22%
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 Urbandale Iowa National
Cost of living10290100
Goods & Services9596100
Groceries9997100
Health care9499100
Housing12273100
Transportation9198100
Utilities8796100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Urbandale, IA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Urbandale is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Urbandale is 102, which is 2% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

The cost of living in Urbandale closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Urbandale can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Urbandale, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 21.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Urbandale Affordable?

Is Urbandale affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Urbandale, the median home price is 31.3% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 0.5% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Urbandale boasting a median household income of $95,961, 73.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Urbandale?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Urbandale, the utilities index registers at 13.4% lower than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Urbandale, the housing index comes in at 21.7% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Urbandale 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 Urbandale is 14% higher than the Iowa average
  • The cost of living in Urbandale is 2% higher than the national average
  • Urbandale housing is 22% higher 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 Urbandale

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Compare Urbandale, 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$111,814$9,318$2,609$3,355
      Renters$51,728$4,311$1,207$1,552
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Urbandale is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Urbandale has a median income of about $111,814 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,609 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $51,728. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,207 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Urbandale National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.63$24.2615.0%
      Beauty Salon $41.00$45.5610.0%
      Toothpaste $3.69$3.700.3%
      Shampoo $1.35$1.285.6%
      Movie $11.17$12.137.9%
      Bowling $20.87$18.0015.9%

      Groceries

      Item Urbandale National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.36$5.848.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.38$1.5712.6%
      Milk $4.82$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $4.81$4.932.6%
      Pizza $11.84$12.092.0%
      Beer $9.82$10.415.7%

      Health Care

      Item Urbandale National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $125.17$125.680.4%
      Doctor $129.05$135.785.0%
      Dentist $96.60$113.2914.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.88$10.652.1%
      Lipitor $495.45$468.605.7%

      Housing

      Item Urbandale National avg. Difference
      Home Price $242,500.00$184,700.0031.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,877.36$2,346.6920.0%
      Apartment Rent $944.00$949.000.5%

      Transportation

      Item Urbandale National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.19$3.467.8%
      Tire Balancing $52.49$59.9212.4%

      Utilities

      Item Urbandale National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $154.71$193.9920.3%
      Phone $186.87$192.252.8%
      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.
      Spring Hill, IA488416.2%
      Elkhart, IA6959010.4%
      Des Moines, IA215,408909.9%
      Carlisle, IA4,181928.4%
      Dallas Center, IA1,710927.6%
      Urbandale, IA43,8791022.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      El Centro, CA43,88111111.5%
      Cutler Bay, FL43,92812322.5%
      Riverton, UT43,79312928.7%
      The Colony, TX43,79112019.5%
      Altamonte Springs, FL43,9691011.5%
      Urbandale, IA43,8791022.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.