Cost of Living in Storm Lake, IA
| Cost of Living in Storm Lake, IA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 36% lower | 48% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 10% higher | 4% higher |
| Food | 17% higher | 17% higher |
| Healthcare | 51% higher | 57% higher |
| Transportation | 9% lower | 6% lower |
| Goods & Services | 5% lower | 8% lower |
The cost of living in Storm Lake, IA is 5% lower than the state average and 11% lower than the national average. Storm Lake, IA housing is 48% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 4% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 17% pricier in Storm Lake, IA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 8% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 57% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 8% cheaper in Storm 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 Storm Lake is $568, while home prices circle around $343,559.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Storm Lake, energy bills cost around $237.37 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 $5.11 in Storm Lake, a dozen eggs go for around $6.90 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.88.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Storm Lake, an optometry check-up costs around $153.45, while a dentist appointment is priced $240.10 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.80 in Storm Lake, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $61.93.
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 $30.24 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $30.99.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Storm Lake, you should budget around $10.02 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $15.05, while dry cleaning costs about $23.00.
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 Storm Lake, the median household income is $58,341.