CostIndexUSA

Iowa City, IA vs Longview, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Longview
89.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Longview is slightly cheaper than Iowa City — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Iowa City, you would need $78,200 in Longview. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.6%
Iowa City
84
Longview
66.7
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Iowa City
93.7
Longview
93.8
🚗 Transportation+3.6%
Iowa City
97.6
Longview
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
Iowa City
88.3
Longview
91.4
Utilities≈ Equal
Iowa City
83.7
Longview
83.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Longview, TX
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Longview

Formula: salary × (89.5 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 0.9781. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Iowa City, IA

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

Longview, TX

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.1×

Iowa City has 20.6% lower housing costs compared to Longview.

Income & Job Market

Iowa City, IA

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

Longview, TX

Median Household Income
$64,000
Per Capita Income
$36,500
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
82,671
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

78% of income left after rent (median)

Longview, TX
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.