| Index | Malcom | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living index | 84 | 90 | 100 |
| Index | Malcom | Iowa | National |
| Goods & Services index | 103 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries index | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care index | 113 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing index | 42 | 73 | 100 |
| Transportation index | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities index | 105 | 98 | 100 |
| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $46,364 | $3,864 | $1,082 | $1,391 |
| Renters | $37,500 | $3,125 | $875 | $1,125 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 0.36% | 8.98% |
| Item | Malcom | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $19.04 | $17.49 | 8.9% |
| Beauty Salon | $38.25 | $38.17 | 0.2% |
| Toothpaste | $2.74 | $2.32 | 18.1% |
| Shampoo | $0.84 | $1.01 | 17.0% |
| Movie | $9.53 | $10.72 | 11.1% |
| Bowling | $15.25 | $13.86 | 10.0% |
| Item | Malcom | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $3.96 | $3.90 | 1.5% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.76 | $1.40 | 26.1% |
| Milk | $2.19 | $1.96 | 11.6% |
| Potatoes | $2.96 | $3.18 | 7.0% |
| Pizza | $10.69 | $10.39 | 2.8% |
| Beer | $8.91 | $9.23 | 3.5% |
| Item | Malcom | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $115.33 | $106.34 | 8.5% |
| Doctor | $113.50 | $115.25 | 1.5% |
| Dentist | $127.50 | $98.38 | 29.6% |
| Ibuprofen | $9.15 | $9.26 | 1.2% |
| Lipitor | $515.99 | $466.47 | 10.6% |
| Item | Malcom | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $77,500.00 | $184,700.00 | 58.0% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $1,190.88 | $1,273.32 | 6.5% |
| Apartment Rent | $395.00 | $949.00 | 58.4% |
| Item | Malcom | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $2.57 | $2.59 | 1.0% |
| Tire Balancing | $46.67 | $48.90 | 4.6% |
| Item | Malcom | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $186.17 | $167.60 | 11.1% |
| Phone | $177.99 | $163.42 | 8.9% |
| City, State | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Chelsea, IA | 242 | 78 | -22% |
| Barnes City, IA | 265 | 83 | -17% |
| Deep River, IA | 252 | 84 | -16% |
| Gilman, IA | 598 | 83 | -17% |
| Searsboro, IA | 184 | 79 | -21% |
| Malcom, IA | 297 | 84 | -16% |
| City, State | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Norway, SC | 297 | 83 | -17% |
| Cross Timbers, MO | 297 | 81 | -19% |
| Gillsville, GA | 297 | 97 | -3% |
| Shickley, NE | 297 | 78 | -22% |
| Saddle Rock Estates, NY | 297 | 249 | 149% |
| Malcom, IA | 297 | 84 | -16% |