Cost of Living in Spirit Lake, IA
| Cost of Living in Spirit Lake, IA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 46% higher | 19% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 18% higher | 11% higher |
| Food | 2% lower | 2% lower |
| Healthcare | 2% lower | 3% higher |
| Transportation | 18% higher | 21% higher |
| Goods & Services | 7% higher | 4% higher |
The cost of living in Spirit Lake, IA is 17% higher than the state average and 9% higher than the national average. Spirit Lake, IA housing is 19% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 11% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 2% cheaper in Spirit Lake, IA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 4% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 3% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 4% pricier in Spirit Lake, 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 Spirit Lake is $1,578, while home prices circle around $736,253.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Spirit Lake, energy bills cost around $264.72 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 $4.67 in Spirit Lake, a dozen eggs go for around $2.71 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.51.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Spirit Lake, an optometry check-up costs around $138.75, while a dentist appointment is priced $117.16 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.85 in Spirit Lake, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $68.53.
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 $53.35 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $45.56.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Spirit Lake, you should budget around $10.58 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $35.36, while dry cleaning costs about $23.15.
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 Spirit Lake, the median household income is $65,720.