CostIndexUSA

Erie, PA vs Iowa City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostPA
Erie
91
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
IA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Erie and Iowa City have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+47.9%
Erie
56.8
Iowa City
84
🛒 Groceries7.0%
Erie
100.7
Iowa City
93.7
🚗 Transportation4.9%
Erie
102.6
Iowa City
97.6
🏥 Healthcare4.8%
Erie
92.8
Iowa City
88.3
Utilities21.6%
Erie
106.8
Iowa City
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Erie to see what you'd need to earn in Iowa City to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Iowa City, IA
$80,400
$400 more needed in Iowa City

Formula: salary × (91.5 ÷ 91) = salary × 1.0055. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Erie, PA

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
56.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Iowa City, IA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Iowa City has 47.9% higher housing costs compared to Erie.

Income & Job Market

Erie, PA

Median Household Income
$60,700
Per Capita Income
$34,600
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
94,831
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationTechnologyRetail

Iowa City, IA

Median Household Income
$71,900
Per Capita Income
$41,000
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
74,398
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyResearchGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Erie, PA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Iowa City, IA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.