Cost of living index
Dubuque, IA
87.3 / 100
Living in Dubuque, IA is 12.7% cheaper than the US average.
Overall prices
87.3
Housing / rent
64
vs US average
−12.7%
What it costs to live in Dubuque, IA
Dubuque, IA has an overall price level of 87.3 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 12.7% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 64 it is 36.0% below the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Dubuque, IA an expensive place to live?
Dubuque, IA has an overall cost-of-living index of 87.3, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 12.7% cheaper than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Dubuque, IA?
Housing in Dubuque, IA scores 64 against a US average of 100 — roughly 36.0% below average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Dubuque, IA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Dubuque, IA sit at 87.3 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 64. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.