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Iowa City, IA

Cost of living in Johnson County, IA

Part of the Iowa City Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,781/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 154,881 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $921 33%
Healthcare $480 17%
Federal tax $424 15%
Groceries $315 11%
Transport $250 9%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $146 5%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Johnson County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$816
per month
1 bedroom
$921
per month
2 bedroom
$1,105
per month
3 bedroom
$1,548
per month
4 bedroom
$1,856
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Johnson County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$74,721
per year
Individual earnings
$36,020
per year
Per capita
$44,699
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Johnson County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$293,100
Annual property tax
$4,587

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Johnson 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 Johnson County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.1%

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 Johnson 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 Johnson County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
19.7 min
Drive alone
64.9%
Public transit
4.1%
Work from home
12.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Johnson County

What it costs to live in Johnson County each month.

Single person
$2,781
per month
  • Rent $921
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $424
  • State tax $146
Couple
$4,358
per month
  • Rent $1,105
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $893
  • State tax $330
Family
$6,925
per month
  • Rent $1,548
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $893
  • State tax $330

Frequently asked questions about Johnson County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Johnson County?

In Johnson County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $921 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,105 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,548 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Johnson County?

In Johnson County, IA, the average household income is $74,721 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $36,020 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Johnson County?

The estimated cost of living in Johnson County, IA is approximately $2,781 per month for a single person, $4,358 for a couple, $6,925 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Johnson County?

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

Is Johnson County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Johnson County, IA would need approximately $2,781 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $74,721 per year ($6,227 per month). Johnson County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Johnson County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Johnson County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.1% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Johnson County?

The average home value in Johnson County, IA is $293,100, with average annual property taxes of $4,587, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Johnson County compare to other areas?

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