Dubuque, IA vs Jefferson City, MO: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Jefferson City, MO and Dubuque, IA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Dubuque works out to about $75,600 in Jefferson City, before taxes.
- Housing is 3.0% lower in Jefferson City, goods 0.5% higher and other services 0.1% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,010 a month in Jefferson City and $1,063 in Dubuque, $636 a year less in Jefferson City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $275,000 in Jefferson City and $277,000 in Dubuque.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.3%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Dubuque and Jefferson City
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Dubuque, IA
- Jefferson City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dubuque, IA | Jefferson City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.3 | 88.0 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 94.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 64.0 | 62.1 |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 85.5 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 93.0 |
| Category | Dubuque | Jefferson City | Jefferson City vs Dubuque |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.3 | 88.0 | +0.7% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 94.2 | +0.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 64.0 | 62.1 | −3.0% |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 85.5 | +5.3% |
| Other services | 92.9 | 93.0 | +0.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,063 | $1,010 | −5.0% |
| Typical home value | $277,000 | $275,000 | −0.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Dubuque | $75,000 | $75,600 | +0.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Dubuque and Jefferson City has narrowed since 2008: 12.0 points then, 0.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Dubuque, IA
- Jefferson City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dubuque, IA | Jefferson City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.4 | 81.4 |
| 2009 | 92.6 | 84.7 |
| 2010 | 91.7 | 87.8 |
| 2011 | 91.3 | 87.4 |
| 2012 | 91.8 | 89.9 |
| 2013 | 92.5 | 88.3 |
| 2014 | 92.8 | 86.8 |
| 2015 | 91.3 | 86.7 |
| 2016 | 91.2 | 85.8 |
| 2017 | 91.5 | 82.5 |
| 2018 | 90.5 | 89.3 |
| 2019 | 89.9 | 91.1 |
| 2020 | 89.8 | 88.9 |
| 2021 | 88.1 | 88.2 |
| 2022 | 86.4 | 87.0 |
| 2023 | 89.1 | 87.4 |
| 2024 | 87.3 | 88.0 |
Goods
- Dubuque, IA
- Jefferson City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dubuque, IA | Jefferson City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.4 | 76.5 |
| 2009 | 97.8 | 85.3 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 94.1 |
| 2011 | 96.1 | 94.5 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 95.5 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 95.0 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 98.2 | 96.2 |
| 2016 | 97.5 | 94.6 |
| 2017 | 96.1 | 93.8 |
| 2018 | 95.8 | 95.1 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2022 | 93.3 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 94.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Dubuque, IA
- Jefferson City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dubuque, IA | Jefferson City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 69.2 | 60.6 |
| 2009 | 67.3 | 59.5 |
| 2010 | 65.3 | 60.3 |
| 2011 | 71.3 | 62.1 |
| 2012 | 71.4 | 66.7 |
| 2013 | 72.9 | 62.9 |
| 2014 | 73.2 | 54.6 |
| 2015 | 70.3 | 60.9 |
| 2016 | 69.9 | 60.7 |
| 2017 | 75.0 | 49.3 |
| 2018 | 65.2 | 57.2 |
| 2019 | 62.1 | 67.6 |
| 2020 | 64.9 | 59.4 |
| 2021 | 59.4 | 58.9 |
| 2022 | 61.6 | 60.0 |
| 2023 | 67.8 | 57.7 |
| 2024 | 64.0 | 62.1 |
Utilities
- Dubuque, IA
- Jefferson City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dubuque, IA | Jefferson City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.4 | 74.7 |
| 2009 | 91.3 | 77.4 |
| 2010 | 89.8 | 82.4 |
| 2011 | 90.6 | 79.2 |
| 2012 | 91.1 | 80.7 |
| 2013 | 89.9 | 83.4 |
| 2014 | 85.5 | 81.2 |
| 2015 | 83.4 | 85.0 |
| 2016 | 82.6 | 85.5 |
| 2017 | 89.1 | 86.7 |
| 2018 | 95.5 | 92.7 |
| 2019 | 93.9 | 92.5 |
| 2020 | 94.5 | 92.9 |
| 2021 | 96.9 | 90.2 |
| 2022 | 95.2 | 88.1 |
| 2023 | 85.1 | 86.6 |
| 2024 | 81.2 | 85.5 |
Other services
- Dubuque, IA
- Jefferson City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dubuque, IA | Jefferson City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.5 | 93.6 |
| 2009 | 99.0 | 94.4 |
| 2010 | 98.5 | 94.4 |
| 2011 | 95.3 | 91.8 |
| 2012 | 96.1 | 94.1 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 93.6 |
| 2014 | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| 2015 | 94.7 | 90.3 |
| 2016 | 96.2 | 89.1 |
| 2017 | 94.8 | 88.4 |
| 2018 | 96.2 | 96.3 |
| 2019 | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 96.4 |
| 2021 | 95.3 | 95.2 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 91.8 |
| 2023 | 92.3 | 92.3 |
| 2024 | 92.9 | 93.0 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,010 in Jefferson City vs $1,063 in Dubuque
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Dubuque, IA
- Jefferson City, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Dubuque, IA | Jefferson City, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $795 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $832 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $852 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $858 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $854 | – | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $885 | $770 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $927 | $763 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $929 | $771 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $935 | $807 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $965 | $810 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $974 | $849 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $952 | $878 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $983 | $881 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $984 | $894 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,022 | $911 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,019 | $950 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $990 | $957 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,031 | $980 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,057 | $966 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,063 | $1,010 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $275,000 in Jefferson City vs $277,000 in Dubuque
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Dubuque, IA
- Jefferson City, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Dubuque, IA | Jefferson City, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $156K | $136K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $157K | $138K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $158K | $140K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $160K | $142K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $161K | $144K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $162K | $145K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $163K | $146K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $164K | $148K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $166K | $150K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $167K | $151K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $168K | $153K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $170K | $155K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $171K | $158K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $172K | $163K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $174K | $165K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $175K | $167K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $177K | $169K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $181K | $169K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $183K | $169K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $186K | $171K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $187K | $173K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $189K | $175K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $194K | $180K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $199K | $189K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $201K | $195K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $207K | $202K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $213K | $206K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $216K | $209K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $223K | $218K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $233K | $227K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $235K | $229K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $236K | $229K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $236K | $229K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $241K | $233K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $243K | $236K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $242K | $237K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $245K | $241K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $249K | $246K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $250K | $248K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $255K | $252K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $259K | $255K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $261K | $255K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $266K | $257K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $271K | $263K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $275K | $268K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $276K | $271K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $277K | $275K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.