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Mason City, IA

Cost of living in Cerro Gordo County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,730/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 42,785 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $706 26%
Federal tax $497 18%
Healthcare $480 18%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $315 12%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $167 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Cerro Gordo County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$701
per month
1 bedroom
$706
per month
2 bedroom
$917
per month
3 bedroom
$1,175
per month
4 bedroom
$1,399
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Cerro Gordo County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$65,537
per year
Individual earnings
$40,465
per year
Per capita
$40,345
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Cerro Gordo County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$154,100
Annual property tax
$2,305

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
3.8%

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 Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
15.8 min
Drive alone
78.8%
Public transit
0.6%
Work from home
7.8%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Cerro Gordo County

What it costs to live in Cerro Gordo County each month.

Single person
$2,730
per month
  • Rent $706
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $497
  • State tax $167
Couple
$4,046
per month
  • Rent $917
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $743
  • State tax $286
Family
$6,428
per month
  • Rent $1,175
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $743
  • State tax $286

Frequently asked questions about Cerro Gordo County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Cerro Gordo County?

In Cerro Gordo County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $706 per month, a two-bedroom averages $917 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,175 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Cerro Gordo County?

In Cerro Gordo County, IA, the average household income is $65,537 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $40,465 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Cerro Gordo County?

The estimated cost of living in Cerro Gordo County, IA is approximately $2,730 per month for a single person, $4,046 for a couple, $6,428 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Cerro Gordo County?

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

Is Cerro Gordo County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Cerro Gordo County, IA would need approximately $2,730 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $65,537 per year ($5,461 per month). Cerro Gordo County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Cerro Gordo County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Cerro Gordo County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 3.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Cerro Gordo County?

The average home value in Cerro Gordo County, IA is $154,100, with average annual property taxes of $2,305, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Cerro Gordo County compare to other areas?

You can compare Cerro Gordo County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Cerro Gordo County is in the Mason City, IA metro area.

Other counties in Iowa

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

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Compare Cerro Gordo County with another area

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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