Cost of Living in Council Bluffs, IA
| Cost of Living in Council Bluffs, IA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 13% higher | 18% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 5% lower | 16% lower |
| Food | 2% higher | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 1% lower | 6% lower |
| Transportation | 7% lower | 6% lower |
| Goods & Services | 41% lower | 2% lower |
The cost of living in Council Bluffs, IA is 19% lower than the state average and 8% lower than the national average. Council Bluffs, IA housing is 18% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 16% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% cheaper in Council Bluffs, IA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 2% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 6% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 2% cheaper in Council Bluffs, IA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Council Bluffs is $1,214, while home prices circle around $385,889.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Council Bluffs, energy bills cost around $148.96 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.87 in Council Bluffs, a dozen eggs go for around $3.22 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.13.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Council Bluffs, an optometry check-up costs around $117.00, while a dentist appointment is priced $90.62 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.08 in Council Bluffs, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $61.50.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $35.09 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $29.71.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Council Bluffs, you should budget around $12.37 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $25.78, while dry cleaning costs about $16.76.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Council Bluffs, the median household income is $64,092.