A+
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
10%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Cedar Falls Iowa National
Cost of living9688100
Goods & Services9094100
Groceries9797100
Health care8996100
Housing11074100
Transportation9099100
Utilities8188100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Cedar Falls, IA

The cost of living in Cedar Falls affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Cedar Falls is 96, which is 4% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Cedar Falls closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Cedar Falls can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Cedar Falls Affordable?

Is Cedar Falls 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 Cedar Falls, the median home price is 14.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 0.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Cedar Falls come in at $95,329, which is 17.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Cedar Falls?

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Cedar Falls, the transportation index is 9.7% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Cedar Falls, healthcare costs are 10.6% lower than the national average.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Cedar Falls, the housing index is 10% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Cedar Falls, 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Cedar Falls is 9% higher than the Iowa average
  • The cost of living in Cedar Falls is 4% lower than the national average
  • Cedar Falls housing is 10% higher than the national average
  • Iowa general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Iowa state income tax is 69% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Cedar Falls

See all the best places to live around Cedar Falls

Compare Cedar Falls, IA Cost of Living

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      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$136,603$11,384$3,187$4,098
      Renters$57,791$4,816$1,348$1,734
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Cedar Falls, 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 Cedar Falls homeowners, is $136,603. This would allow for a maximum of $3,187 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $57,791 which would result in a maximum of $1,348 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 4.4% 6%

      Goods & Services

      Item Cedar Falls National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.16$27.625.3%
      Beauty Salon $39.17$51.1123.4%
      Toothpaste $4.06$4.090.8%
      Shampoo $1.61$1.544.4%
      Movie $13.94$12.888.2%
      Yoga $14.56$19.6625.9%

      Groceries

      Item Cedar Falls National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.85$7.701.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.54$1.667.4%
      Milk $4.62$4.732.4%
      Potatoes $5.03$5.264.3%
      Pizza $12.31$12.763.5%
      Beer $10.23$10.553.0%

      Health Care

      Item Cedar Falls National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $174.98$140.0624.9%
      Doctor $144.00$153.826.4%
      Dentist $100.03$123.1518.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.60$11.731.1%
      Lipitor $19.10$23.6119.1%

      Housing

      Item Cedar Falls National avg. Difference
      Home Price $373,379.00$326,622.0014.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,380.41$2,480.254.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,445.00$1,444.000.1%

      Transportation

      Item Cedar Falls National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.93$3.064.0%
      Tire Balancing $49.98$65.2123.4%

      Utilities

      Item Cedar Falls National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $154.94$220.1229.6%
      Phone $191.50$195.712.2%
      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.
      Morrison, IA1507723.4%
      New Hartford, IA8158119.4%
      Washburn, IA5348119.0%
      Evansdale, IA4,9198217.6%
      Stout, IA2188317.3%
      Cedar Falls, IA42,150964.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Weslaco, TX42,1368118.7%
      Bartlett, IL42,16712323.2%
      Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC42,121n/a 
      Hutchinson, KS42,0738217.6%
      Hickory, NC42,0591000.0%
      Cedar Falls, IA42,150964.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.