Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Storm Lake, IA

Cost of living in Buena Vista County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,653/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 20,684 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $727 27%
Healthcare $480 18%
Federal tax $475 18%
Groceries $315 12%
Transport $250 9%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $161 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Buena Vista County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$722
per month
1 bedroom
$727
per month
2 bedroom
$954
per month
3 bedroom
$1,169
per month
4 bedroom
$1,265
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Buena Vista County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$66,564
per year
Individual earnings
$39,127
per year
Per capita
$33,083
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Buena Vista County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$146,900
Annual property tax
$1,822

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.5%

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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
14.7 min
Drive alone
69.9%
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
6.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Buena Vista County

What it costs to live in Buena Vista County each month.

Single person
$2,653
per month
  • Rent $727
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $475
  • State tax $161
Couple
$4,034
per month
  • Rent $954
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $759
  • State tax $291
Family
$6,373
per month
  • Rent $1,169
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $759
  • State tax $291

Frequently asked questions about Buena Vista County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Buena Vista County?

In Buena Vista County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $727 per month, a two-bedroom averages $954 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,169 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Buena Vista County?

In Buena Vista County, IA, the average household income is $66,564 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $39,127 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Buena Vista County?

The estimated cost of living in Buena Vista County, IA is approximately $2,653 per month for a single person, $4,034 for a couple, $6,373 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Buena Vista County?

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

Is Buena Vista County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Buena Vista County, IA would need approximately $2,653 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $66,564 per year ($5,547 per month). Buena Vista County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Buena Vista County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Buena Vista County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.5% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Buena Vista County?

The average home value in Buena Vista County, IA is $146,900, with average annual property taxes of $1,822, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Buena Vista County compare to other areas?

You can compare Buena Vista County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Buena Vista County is in the Storm Lake, IA metro area.

Other counties in Iowa

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

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Buena Vista 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