CostIndexUSA

Iowa City, IA vs Lynchburg, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Lynchburg
89.4
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Lynchburg is slightly cheaper than Iowa City — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.9%
Iowa City
84
Lynchburg
63.9
🛒 Groceries+3.3%
Iowa City
93.7
Lynchburg
96.8
🚗 Transportation+6.0%
Iowa City
97.6
Lynchburg
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+6.1%
Iowa City
88.3
Lynchburg
93.7
Utilities+4.9%
Iowa City
83.7
Lynchburg
87.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lynchburg, VA
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Lynchburg

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 0.9770. 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×

Lynchburg, VA

Median Home Price
$277,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
63.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Iowa City has 23.9% lower housing costs compared to Lynchburg.

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

Lynchburg, VA

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
82,168
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Lynchburg, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.