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Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Cost of living in Guthrie County, IA

Part of the Des Moines Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,131/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 10,646 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,017 32%
Federal tax $567 18%
Healthcare $480 15%
Transport $320 10%
Groceries $315 10%
Energy $195 6%
State tax $187 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Guthrie County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$954
per month
1 bedroom
$1,017
per month
2 bedroom
$1,216
per month
3 bedroom
$1,632
per month
4 bedroom
$1,638
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Guthrie County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$79,981
per year
Individual earnings
$44,720
per year
Per capita
$42,898
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Guthrie County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$163,900
Annual property tax
$2,172

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Guthrie 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 Guthrie County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
3.4%

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 Guthrie 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 Guthrie County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
26.9 min
Drive alone
78.8%
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
9.7%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Guthrie County

What it costs to live in Guthrie County each month.

Single person
$3,131
per month
  • Rent $1,017
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $567
  • State tax $187
Couple
$4,650
per month
  • Rent $1,216
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $979
  • State tax $355
Family
$7,190
per month
  • Rent $1,632
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $979
  • State tax $355

Frequently asked questions about Guthrie County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Guthrie County?

In Guthrie County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,017 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,216 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,632 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Guthrie County?

In Guthrie County, IA, the average household income is $79,981 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $44,720 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Guthrie County?

The estimated cost of living in Guthrie County, IA is approximately $3,131 per month for a single person, $4,650 for a couple, $7,190 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Guthrie County?

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

Is Guthrie County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Guthrie County, IA would need approximately $3,131 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $79,981 per year ($6,665 per month). Guthrie County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Guthrie County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Guthrie County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 3.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Guthrie County?

The average home value in Guthrie County, IA is $163,900, with average annual property taxes of $2,172, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Guthrie County compare to other areas?

You can compare Guthrie County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Guthrie County is in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, 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 Guthrie 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