| Index | Mason City | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 87 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 66 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 94 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Mason City 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 Mason City stands at 87, marking it 13% lower than the national average.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 30 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Mason City and this is how they responded. 57% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 43% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Mason City 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 Mason City is 39.2% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 23.3% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Mason City has a median household income of $81,099, which is 0.3% lower than the national average.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Mason City, is 34.5% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Mason City, the groceries index is 4.6% lower than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Mason City are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| 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 | $96,169 | $8,014 | $2,244 | $2,885 |
| Renters | $54,053 | $4,504 | $1,261 | $1,622 |
| 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. |
| Portland, IA | 29 | 96 | 4.1% |
| Burchinal, IA | 20 | 96 | 4.1% |
| Swaledale, IA | 136 | 79 | 21.2% |
| Kensett, IA | 292 | 83 | 16.8% |
| Joice, IA | 258 | 85 | 15.4% |
| Mason City, IA | 27,815 | 87 | 13.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Boisbriand, QC | 27,813 | n/a | |
| Allen Park, MI | 27,807 | 93 | 6.5% |
| Thomasville, NC | 27,805 | 89 | 11.0% |
| Maywood, CA | 27,798 | 140 | 40.2% |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,840 | 162 | 61.9% |
| Mason City, IA | 27,815 | 87 | 13.2% |
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