Cost of living in the Iowa City Metro Area
2 counties across IA. Population: 177,420.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Iowa City Metro Area
Average rent across the Iowa City metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Iowa City Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 2 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Iowa City Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Iowa City Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 2 counties in the Iowa City Metro Area
The Iowa City metro area includes 2 counties. Sorted by population.
- Johnson County IA$2,781/moPop154,881 Rent$921/mo Income$74,721/yrJohnson County IA 154,881 $921/mo $74,721/yr $2,781/mo
- Washington County IA$2,681/moPop22,539 Rent$674/mo Income$71,339/yrWashington County IA 22,539 $674/mo $71,339/yr $2,681/mo
Compare counties in the Iowa City Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Iowa City Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Iowa City Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Iowa City metro area is approximately $2,768 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 2 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Iowa City Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Iowa City metro area is $890 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Iowa City Metro Area?
Washington County, IA is the most affordable county in the Iowa City metro area at approximately $2,681 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Iowa City Metro Area?
Johnson County, IA is the most expensive county in the Iowa City metro area at approximately $2,781 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Iowa City Metro Area?
The Iowa City metro area covers 2 counties. The five largest by population are Johnson County, Washington County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.