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Muscatine, IA

Cost of living in Muscatine County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,866/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 42,735 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $811 28%
Federal tax $521 18%
Healthcare $480 17%
Transport $320 11%
Groceries $315 11%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $174 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Muscatine County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$760
per month
1 bedroom
$811
per month
2 bedroom
$1,031
per month
3 bedroom
$1,337
per month
4 bedroom
$1,555
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Muscatine County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$69,512
per year
Individual earnings
$41,899
per year
Per capita
$35,228
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Muscatine County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$172,400
Annual property tax
$2,667

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Muscatine 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 Muscatine County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
4.0%

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 Muscatine 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 Muscatine County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
19.4 min
Drive alone
81.3%
Public transit
0.4%
Work from home
5.9%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Muscatine County

What it costs to live in Muscatine County each month.

Single person
$2,866
per month
  • Rent $811
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $521
  • State tax $174
Couple
$4,244
per month
  • Rent $1,031
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $808
  • State tax $305
Family
$6,674
per month
  • Rent $1,337
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $808
  • State tax $305

Frequently asked questions about Muscatine County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Muscatine County?

In Muscatine County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $811 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,031 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,337 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Muscatine County?

In Muscatine County, IA, the average household income is $69,512 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $41,899 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Muscatine County?

The estimated cost of living in Muscatine County, IA is approximately $2,866 per month for a single person, $4,244 for a couple, $6,674 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Muscatine County?

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

Is Muscatine County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Muscatine County, IA would need approximately $2,866 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $69,512 per year ($5,793 per month). Muscatine County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Muscatine County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Muscatine County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 4.0% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Muscatine County?

The average home value in Muscatine County, IA is $172,400, with average annual property taxes of $2,667, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Muscatine County compare to other areas?

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