Fairfield, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Fairfield, IA Summary

Cost of living in Fairfield research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Fairfield is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Iowa, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Fairfield is 86, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Fairfield is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Fairfield ranks as the #28 cheapest in Iowa out of 80.

  • Fairfield ranks as the #938 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Fairfield is $106,900.

  • The median income in Fairfield is $43,006.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
86
Fairfield's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Fairfield, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fairfield has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Iowa, Fairfield has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 89.

The standard of living in Fairfield ranks as #28 most affordable out of the 80 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Fairfield ranks as the #52 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Fairfield, check out:

28 out of 80
In Iowa
938 out of 6,412
In America

Fairfield Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fairfield. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Fairfield is 86.

  • The Groceries index in Fairfield is 94.

  • The Health index in Fairfield is 98.

  • The Housing index in Fairfield is 59.

  • The Transportation index in Fairfield is 96.

  • The Utilities index in Fairfield is 112.

Living Expense Fairfield Iowa National Average
Overall 86 89 100
Services 86 95 100
Groceries 94 98 100
Health 98 99 100
Housing 59 73 100
Transportation 96 98 100
Utilities 112 94 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Fairfield Cost of Living Vs. IA

Fairfield, IA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Fairfield is $106,900.

  • The Median Rent in Fairfield is $802.

  • The Median Income in Fairfield is $43,006.

  • The Home Value To Income in Fairfield is 2.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Fairfield is 0.22x.

Statistic Fairfield Iowa United States
Median Home Value $106,900 $160,700 $244,900
Median Rent $802 $845 $1,163
Median Income $43,006 $65,429 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.5x 2.5x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.15x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Fairfield, IA
$106,900
Median Home Value
$802
Median Rent
$43,006
Median Income

Fairfield, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Fairfield Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Fairfield Iowa
Shampoo $1.14 $1.06
Movie $9.0 $10.68
Bowling $7.67 $14.67
Haircut $14.68 $18.62
Beauty Salon $23.66 $39.05

Detailed Fairfield Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Fairfield Iowa
Ground Beef $3.51 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.48 $1.39
Milk $1.85 $2.05
Potatoes $2.41 $3.29
Pizza $9.99 $10.62
Beer $9.47 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.84 $2.34

Detailed Fairfield Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Fairfield Iowa
Optometrist $101.5 $108.57
Doctor $123.92 $116.17
Dentist $95.39 $99.13

Detailed Fairfield Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Fairfield Iowa
Gasoline $2.18 $2.22
Tire Balancing $43.5 $50.07

Detailed Fairfield Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Fairfield Iowa
All Electricity $202.25 $167.67
Phone $180.82 $175.64

Fairfield SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
6
Affordability
7
Diversity
8
Safety
7
Amenities
8
Education
9
Commute
10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fairfield

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fairfield. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Ottumwa, IA has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Fairfield.

  • Burlington, IA has a cost of living index of 83, 1.0x Fairfield.

  • Oskaloosa, IA has a cost of living index of 83, 1.0x Fairfield.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Fairfield
Ottumwa, IA 25,379 85 1.0x
Burlington, IA 24,160 83 1.0x
Oskaloosa, IA 11,552 83 1.0x
Fort Madison, IA 10,340 82 1.0x
Mount Pleasant, IA 8,996 85 1.0x
Washington, IA 7,314 89 1.0x

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