A+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
31%
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 Muscatine Iowa National
Cost of living9090100
Goods & Services10196100
Groceries9797100
Health care9499100
Housing6973100
Transportation10498100
Utilities8696100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Muscatine, IA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Muscatine? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Muscatine stands at 90, making it 10% lower 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.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Muscatine?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 24 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Muscatine. The feedback revealed that 83% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 17% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Muscatine Affordable?

Is Muscatine an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Muscatine, the median home price is 39.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 11.8% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Muscatine come in at $53,768, which is 2.8% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Muscatine?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Muscatine, healthcare costs are 5.6% lower than the national average.

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 Muscatine, the utilities index registers at 13.9% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Muscatine, the transportation index stands at 4.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Muscatine, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Muscatine is equal to the Iowa average
  • The cost of living in Muscatine is 10% lower than the national average
  • Muscatine housing is 31% lower than the national average
  • Iowa general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Iowa state income tax is 85% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Muscatine

See all the best places to live around Muscatine

Compare Muscatine, 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$70,488$5,874$1,645$2,115
      Renters$36,994$3,083$863$1,110
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Muscatine, IA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Muscatine homeowners, is $70,488. This would allow for a maximum of $1,645 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $36,994 which would result in a maximum of $863 to be spent on rental costs.

      Iowa Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Iowa 6% 7%

      Iowa Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Iowa 0.33% 8.53%

      Goods & Services

      Item Muscatine National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.83$24.2614.7%
      Beauty Salon $46.89$45.562.9%
      Toothpaste $3.82$3.703.1%
      Shampoo $1.30$1.281.5%
      Movie $11.85$12.132.4%
      Bowling $18.50$18.002.8%

      Groceries

      Item Muscatine National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.67$5.842.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.35$1.5714.2%
      Milk $4.63$4.670.8%
      Potatoes $4.73$4.934.1%
      Pizza $11.49$12.094.9%
      Beer $9.86$10.415.3%

      Health Care

      Item Muscatine National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $134.20$125.686.8%
      Doctor $140.02$135.783.1%
      Dentist $93.33$113.2917.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.72$10.650.6%
      Lipitor $454.61$468.603.0%

      Housing

      Item Muscatine National avg. Difference
      Home Price $112,500.00$184,700.0039.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,900.08$2,346.6919.0%
      Apartment Rent $837.00$949.0011.8%

      Transportation

      Item Muscatine National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.37$3.462.5%
      Tire Balancing $72.71$59.9221.4%

      Utilities

      Item Muscatine National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $153.70$193.9920.8%
      Phone $186.06$192.253.2%
      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.
      Conesville, IA5348217.8%
      Fredonia, IA2348317.1%
      Nichols, IA3768416.1%
      Letts, IA3348515.5%
      Stockton, IA1608712.7%
      Muscatine, IA23,6619010.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      North Haven, CT23,66512423.5%
      Searcy, AR23,6738416.0%
      South Elgin, IL23,64811312.8%
      Newberg, OR23,67612727.0%
      Zion, IL23,677973.4%
      Muscatine, IA23,6619010.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.