CostIndexUSA

Iowa City, IA vs Ocala, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
FL
Ocala
95.2
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Iowa City is slightly cheaper than Ocala — 4.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Iowa City, you would need $83,200 in Ocala. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+2.6%
Iowa City
84
Ocala
86.2
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Iowa City
93.7
Ocala
96.2
🚗 Transportation+6.4%
Iowa City
97.6
Ocala
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+6.3%
Iowa City
88.3
Ocala
93.9
Utilities+4.1%
Iowa City
83.7
Ocala
87.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Ocala, FL
$83,200
$3,200 more needed in Ocala

Formula: salary × (95.2 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 1.0404. 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×

Ocala, FL

Median Home Price
$271,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
86.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Ocala has 2.6% higher housing costs compared to Iowa City.

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

Ocala, FL

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
63,591
Top Industries
HealthcareEquestrianManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Ocala, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.