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Iowa

Cost of living in Buchanan County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,751/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 20,645 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $702 26%
Federal tax $516 19%
Healthcare $480 17%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $315 11%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $173 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Buchanan County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$697
per month
1 bedroom
$702
per month
2 bedroom
$921
per month
3 bedroom
$1,218
per month
4 bedroom
$1,250
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Buchanan County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$78,430
per year
Individual earnings
$41,578
per year
Per capita
$37,392
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Buchanan County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$171,400
Annual property tax
$2,286

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Buchanan County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$134
per month · 15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,340
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Buchanan County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.9%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Buchanan County

State and local tax rates for Iowa.

State income tax
5.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.9%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Buchanan County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
23.1 min
Drive alone
78.2%
Public transit
0.3%
Work from home
8.9%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Buchanan County

What it costs to live in Buchanan County each month.

Single person
$2,751
per month
  • Rent $702
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $516
  • State tax $173
Couple
$4,323
per month
  • Rent $921
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $954
  • State tax $348
Family
$6,744
per month
  • Rent $1,218
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $954
  • State tax $348

Frequently asked questions about Buchanan County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Buchanan County?

In Buchanan County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $702 per month, a two-bedroom averages $921 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,218 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Buchanan County?

In Buchanan County, IA, the average household income is $78,430 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $41,578 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Buchanan County?

The estimated cost of living in Buchanan County, IA is approximately $2,751 per month for a single person, $4,323 for a couple, $6,744 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Buchanan County?

The combined sales tax rate in Buchanan County, IA is 6.94%, which includes the Iowa state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.94%.

Is Buchanan County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Buchanan County, IA would need approximately $2,751 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $78,430 per year ($6,536 per month). Buchanan County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Buchanan County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Buchanan County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.9% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Buchanan County?

The average home value in Buchanan County, IA is $171,400, with average annual property taxes of $2,286, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Buchanan County compare to other areas?

You can compare Buchanan County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Buchanan County is in Iowa.

Other counties in Iowa

Browse the full list of counties in Iowa, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Buchanan County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources