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Iowa

Cost of living in Palo Alto County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,663/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 8,902 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $668 25%
Healthcare $480 18%
Federal tax $474 18%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $315 12%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $161 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Palo Alto County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$646
per month
1 bedroom
$668
per month
2 bedroom
$877
per month
3 bedroom
$1,158
per month
4 bedroom
$1,163
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Palo Alto County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$68,963
per year
Individual earnings
$39,046
per year
Per capita
$35,518
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Palo Alto County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$119,300
Annual property tax
$1,471

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.0%

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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
17.7 min
Drive alone
77.1%
Public transit
0.6%
Work from home
6.2%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Palo Alto County

What it costs to live in Palo Alto County each month.

Single person
$2,663
per month
  • Rent $668
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $474
  • State tax $161
Couple
$4,079
per month
  • Rent $877
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $799
  • State tax $303
Family
$6,484
per month
  • Rent $1,158
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $799
  • State tax $303

Frequently asked questions about Palo Alto County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Palo Alto County?

In Palo Alto County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $668 per month, a two-bedroom averages $877 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,158 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Palo Alto County?

In Palo Alto County, IA, the average household income is $68,963 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $39,046 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Palo Alto County?

The estimated cost of living in Palo Alto County, IA is approximately $2,663 per month for a single person, $4,079 for a couple, $6,484 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Palo Alto County?

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

Is Palo Alto County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Palo Alto County, IA would need approximately $2,663 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $68,963 per year ($5,747 per month). Palo Alto County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Palo Alto County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Palo Alto County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.0% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Palo Alto County?

The average home value in Palo Alto County, IA is $119,300, with average annual property taxes of $1,471, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Palo Alto County compare to other areas?

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

Other counties in Iowa

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

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Palo Alto 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