Cost of Living in Ames, IA
Ames, IA is the - most affordable city out of the - in our database.
0% higher than state average.
0% higher than national average
Cost of Living in Ames, IA by Expense Category
Percentage Difference Compared to National Average
Try our Cost of Living Calculator to compare cities together.
Compare CitiesGrocery
0% higher than state average, 0% higher than national average
| Ames PRICE | NATIONAL AVERAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| Steak | - | - |
| Ground Beef | - | - |
| Sausage | - | - |
| Frying Chicken | - | - |
| Chunk Light Tuna | - | - |
| Whole Milk | - | - |
| Eggs | - | - |
| Margarine | - | - |
| Parmesan Cheese | - | - |
| Potatoes | - | - |
| Bananas | - | - |
| Lettuce | - | - |
| Bread | - | - |
| Fresh Orange Juice | - | - |
| Coffee | - | - |
| Sugar | - | - |
| Corn Flakes | - | - |
| Sweet Peas | - | - |
| Peaches | - | - |
| Facial Tissues | - | - |
| Detergent | - | - |
| Cooking Oil | - | - |
| Frozen Meal | - | - |
| Frozen Corn | - | - |
| Potato Chips | - | - |
| Soft Drink | - | - |
Housing
0% higher than state average, 0% higher than national average
| Ames PRICE | NATIONAL AVERAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment Rent | - | - |
| Home Price | - | - |
Utilities
0% higher than state average, 0% higher than national average
| Ames PRICE | NATIONAL AVERAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Energy | - | - |
| Phone | - | - |
Transportation
0% higher than state average, 0% higher than national average
| Ames PRICE | NATIONAL AVERAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Balance | - | - |
| Gasoline | - | - |
Healthcare
0% higher than state average, 0% higher than national average
| Ames PRICE | NATIONAL AVERAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist Visit | - | - |
| Doctor Visit | - | - |
| Dentist Visit | - | - |
| Ibuprofen | - | - |
| Prescription Drug | - | - |
Miscellaneous
0% higher than state average, 0% higher than national average
| Ames PRICE | NATIONAL AVERAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| Hamburger | - | - |
| Pizza | - | - |
| Fried Chicken | - | - |
| Haircut | - | - |
| Beauty Salon | - | - |
| Toothpaste | - | - |
| Shampoo | - | - |
| Dry Cleaning | - | - |
| Man Dress Shirt | - | - |
| Boy Jeans | - | - |
| Women Slacks | - | - |
| Washer Repair | - | - |
| Newspaper | - | - |
| Movie | - | - |
| Yoga | - | - |
| Tennis Balls | - | - |
| Veterinary Services | - | - |
| Beer | - | - |
| Wine | - | - |
Methodology
Our cost of living calculator is powered by data from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), a trusted nonprofit organization that collects and compares prices across hundreds of U.S. cities. The C2ER Cost of Living Index measures everyday expenses like housing, groceries, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and other common goods and services, so you can see how costs stack up in different places.
Each city’s score is benchmarked against a national average of 100, which makes comparisons easy. For example, a score of 110 would indicate costs about 10% higher than the national average.
We update our calculator twice a year to reflect the latest C2ER data. While these numbers represent citywide averages, it’s important to keep in mind that your actual expenses may vary depending on your lifestyle and the neighborhood you choose.
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