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Oskaloosa, IA

Cost of living in Mahaska County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,690/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 22,045 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $685 25%
Federal tax $482 18%
Healthcare $480 18%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $315 12%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $163 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Mahaska County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$616
per month
1 bedroom
$685
per month
2 bedroom
$899
per month
3 bedroom
$1,083
per month
4 bedroom
$1,192
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Mahaska County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$69,019
per year
Individual earnings
$39,512
per year
Per capita
$35,035
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Mahaska County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$140,900
Annual property tax
$1,956

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Mahaska 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 Mahaska County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
4.7%

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 Mahaska 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 Mahaska County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
17.7 min
Drive alone
80.2%
Public transit
0.1%
Work from home
6.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Mahaska County

What it costs to live in Mahaska County each month.

Single person
$2,690
per month
  • Rent $685
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $482
  • State tax $163
Couple
$4,102
per month
  • Rent $899
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $800
  • State tax $303
Family
$6,410
per month
  • Rent $1,083
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $800
  • State tax $303

Frequently asked questions about Mahaska County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Mahaska County?

In Mahaska County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $685 per month, a two-bedroom averages $899 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,083 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Mahaska County?

In Mahaska County, IA, the average household income is $69,019 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $39,512 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Mahaska County?

The estimated cost of living in Mahaska County, IA is approximately $2,690 per month for a single person, $4,102 for a couple, $6,410 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Mahaska County?

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

Is Mahaska County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Mahaska County, IA would need approximately $2,690 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $69,019 per year ($5,752 per month). Mahaska County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Mahaska County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Mahaska County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 4.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Mahaska County?

The average home value in Mahaska County, IA is $140,900, with average annual property taxes of $1,956, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Mahaska County compare to other areas?

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