| Index | Muscatine | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 91 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 69 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 97 | 94 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Muscatine 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 Muscatine is 91, which is 9% lower 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.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Muscatine are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Muscatine can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 26 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Muscatine and this is how they responded. 85% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 15% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Muscatine 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 Muscatine is 38.6% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 12.3% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Muscatine has a median household income of $79,760, which is 1.9% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Muscatine, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates kick off at 4.4%.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Muscatine, the transportation index is 1.9% higher than the national average.
The Muscatine 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 | $105,007 | $8,751 | $2,450 | $3,151 |
| Renters | $55,870 | $4,656 | $1,304 | $1,676 |
| 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. |
| Conesville, IA | 553 | 81 | 19.4% |
| Fredonia, IA | 243 | 82 | 18.4% |
| Nichols, IA | 387 | 83 | 17.2% |
| Letts, IA | 347 | 83 | 16.8% |
| Stockton, IA | 166 | 86 | 13.6% |
| Muscatine, IA | 24,516 | 91 | 9.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Wekiwa Springs, FL | 24,510 | 125 | 25.2% |
| West Springfield, VA | 24,524 | 148 | 47.7% |
| Van Buren, AR | 24,502 | 87 | 13.0% |
| Wadsworth, OH | 24,502 | 93 | 6.7% |
| Newberg, OR | 24,502 | 124 | 23.7% |
| Muscatine, IA | 24,516 | 91 | 9.1% |
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