Iowa vs Texas: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Iowa or Texas?
- Overall, Texas is 10.6% more expensive than Iowa (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Iowa works out to about $82,900 in Texas, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 47.7% more in Texas. Goods are 4.6% higher and other services 4.5% higher.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $58,219 in Texas and $60,144 in Iowa (3.2% lower in Texas; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 83.8 in Eagle Pass, TX to 103.1 in Dallas, TX (Texas) and from 86.5 in Sioux City, IA to 91.7 in Des Moines, IA (Iowa), US = 100.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Texas was 7.3% more expensive than Iowa.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 47.7% higher in Texas than in Iowa
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Iowa
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Iowa | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.8 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 98.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 65.3 | 96.5 |
| Utilities | 83.3 | 87.5 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 97.1 |
| Category | Iowa | Texas | Texas vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.8 | 97.1 | +10.6% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 98.1 | +4.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 65.3 | 96.5 | +47.7% |
| Utilities | 83.3 | 87.5 | +5.1% |
| Other services | 92.9 | 97.1 | +4.5% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $60,144 | $58,219 | −3.2% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.14 | $3.70 | −10.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Iowa | $75,000 | $82,900 | +10.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Midwest region average (EIA has no separate Iowa figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Iowa
- Sioux City, IA 86.5
- Waterloo, IA 87.1
- Dubuque, IA 87.3
- Ames, IA 88.8
- Cedar Rapids, IA 89.0
- Davenport, IA 89.1
- Iowa City, IA 91.5
- Des Moines, IA 91.7
- Omaha, NE 91.9
Texas
- Eagle Pass, TX 83.8
- Texarkana, TX 84.0
- McAllen, TX 85.9
- Brownsville, TX 86.0
- Laredo, TX 87.0
- Longview, TX 89.5
- Wichita Falls, TX 89.5
- Victoria, TX 89.8
- El Paso, TX 89.9
- Beaumont, TX 90.0
- Abilene, TX 90.4
- College Station, TX 91.0
- Killeen, TX 91.1
- Lubbock, TX 91.3
- Amarillo, TX 91.8
- Tyler, TX 92.2
- San Angelo, TX 92.5
- Waco, TX 92.6
- Corpus Christi, TX 92.7
- Sherman, TX 93.8
- Odessa, TX 93.9
- San Antonio, TX 94.7
- Midland, TX 95.8
- Austin, TX 98.1
- Houston, TX 98.6
- Dallas, TX 103.1
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Iowa and Texas has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Iowa
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Iowa | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.4 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 89.8 | 96.7 |
| 2010 | 91.1 | 97.7 |
| 2011 | 89.8 | 97.0 |
| 2012 | 90.8 | 97.7 |
| 2013 | 90.9 | 98.1 |
| 2014 | 91.0 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 89.5 | 98.3 |
| 2016 | 89.4 | 98.1 |
| 2017 | 89.2 | 97.4 |
| 2018 | 91.8 | 97.8 |
| 2019 | 91.8 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 90.6 | 98.8 |
| 2021 | 89.8 | 98.4 |
| 2022 | 88.4 | 97.4 |
| 2023 | 88.8 | 97.1 |
| 2024 | 87.8 | 97.1 |
Goods
- Iowa
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Iowa | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.8 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 91.1 | 96.1 |
| 2010 | 95.4 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 95.4 | 96.5 |
| 2012 | 96.3 | 97.6 |
| 2013 | 95.9 | 97.6 |
| 2014 | 96.9 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 96.8 | 97.1 |
| 2016 | 95.8 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 95.8 | 97.1 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.9 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 98.2 |
| 2021 | 94.1 | 98.5 |
| 2022 | 93.3 | 97.2 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 98.1 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 98.1 |
Housing (rents)
- Iowa
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Iowa | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 66.6 | 88.0 |
| 2009 | 70.2 | 88.2 |
| 2010 | 70.0 | 89.3 |
| 2011 | 71.3 | 89.7 |
| 2012 | 71.1 | 91.1 |
| 2013 | 71.7 | 91.4 |
| 2014 | 72.1 | 93.6 |
| 2015 | 70.0 | 94.0 |
| 2016 | 71.0 | 95.6 |
| 2017 | 72.8 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 71.3 | 95.2 |
| 2019 | 69.5 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 67.2 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 66.2 | 95.6 |
| 2022 | 67.1 | 97.0 |
| 2023 | 66.0 | 97.5 |
| 2024 | 65.3 | 96.5 |
Utilities
- Iowa
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Iowa | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 84.8 | 101.4 |
| 2009 | 86.2 | 96.2 |
| 2010 | 88.6 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 84.3 | 94.4 |
| 2012 | 85.1 | 93.1 |
| 2013 | 85.9 | 95.7 |
| 2014 | 83.1 | 94.9 |
| 2015 | 82.2 | 91.1 |
| 2016 | 82.9 | 91.9 |
| 2017 | 87.4 | 88.0 |
| 2018 | 97.2 | 87.5 |
| 2019 | 97.0 | 87.7 |
| 2020 | 97.3 | 85.0 |
| 2021 | 99.1 | 86.2 |
| 2022 | 98.1 | 88.7 |
| 2023 | 87.3 | 92.4 |
| 2024 | 83.3 | 87.5 |
Other services
- Iowa
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Iowa | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.5 | 100.0 |
| 2009 | 96.8 | 100.4 |
| 2010 | 96.3 | 100.3 |
| 2011 | 92.9 | 100.1 |
| 2012 | 94.5 | 100.4 |
| 2013 | 94.7 | 101.0 |
| 2014 | 94.3 | 101.1 |
| 2015 | 91.9 | 101.1 |
| 2016 | 92.2 | 99.0 |
| 2017 | 91.2 | 98.9 |
| 2018 | 96.2 | 99.8 |
| 2019 | 96.3 | 100.5 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 95.3 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 92.3 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 92.9 | 97.1 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $58,219 in Texas, $60,144 in Iowa
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Iowa
- Texas
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Iowa | Texas | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $49,456 | $46,068 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $46,729 | $43,349 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $46,358 | $44,078 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $49,104 | $46,663 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $49,628 | $47,554 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $49,488 | $47,301 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $50,001 | $48,959 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $52,254 | $48,983 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $52,065 | $47,686 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $52,544 | $49,918 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $52,172 | $51,551 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $52,372 | $52,343 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $55,696 | $53,181 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $59,666 | $56,442 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $59,743 | $56,452 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $58,646 | $57,708 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $60,144 | $58,219 | $59,195 |
More
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.