| Index | Johnston | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 110 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 138 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 97 | 94 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Johnston? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Johnston stands at 110, making it 10% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Johnston closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, houshold expenses, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Johnston can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
When it comes to the cost of living in Johnston, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 37.8% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 10 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Johnston and this is how they responded. 60% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 40% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Johnston 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 Johnston, the median home price is 46.4% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 17.7% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Johnston boasting a median household income of $139,721, 71.8% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Johnston, the utilities index is 2.7% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Johnston, the groceries index registers 0.5% lower than the national average.
The Johnston cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $168,510 | $14,043 | $3,932 | $5,056 |
| Renters | $84,451 | $7,038 | $1,970 | $2,534 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 4.4% | 6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Elkhart, IA | 709 | 91 | 9.2% |
| Madrid, IA | 2,660 | 90 | 9.9% |
| Woodward, IA | 1,280 | 91 | 8.5% |
| Des Moines, IA | 221,968 | 91 | 8.5% |
| Sheldahl, IA | 346 | 92 | 7.6% |
| Johnston, IA | 22,844 | 110 | 9.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Frederickson, WA | 22,845 | 127 | 26.5% |
| Patterson, CA | 22,827 | 132 | 31.8% |
| Wilmot, ON | 22,827 | n/a | |
| Nixa, MO | 22,872 | 96 | 4.1% |
| Ruston, LA | 22,812 | 95 | 4.9% |
| Johnston, IA | 22,844 | 110 | 9.8% |
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