Cost of Living in Dubuque, IA
| Cost of Living in Dubuque, IA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 5% lower | 30% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 10% higher | 2% lower |
| Food | 0% | 2% lower |
| Healthcare | 1% lower | 6% lower |
| Transportation | 4% higher | 4% higher |
| Goods & Services | 4% higher | 0% |
The cost of living in Dubuque, IA is 2% higher than the state average and 9% lower than the national average. Dubuque, IA housing is 30% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 2% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 2% cheaper in Dubuque, IA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 0% .
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 0% in Dubuque, 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 Dubuque is $1,159, while home prices circle around $374,383.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Dubuque, energy bills cost around $228.07 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 $4.75 in Dubuque, a dozen eggs go for around $3.63 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.01.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Dubuque, an optometry check-up costs around $302.92, while a dentist appointment is priced $91.15 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.76 in Dubuque, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $77.82.
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 $42.54 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $44.86.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Dubuque, you should budget around $9.32 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $21.43, while dry cleaning costs about $18.32.
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 Dubuque, the median household income is $65,845.