Ames cost of living
Prices in the Ames, IA metro area run at 88.8 against a national average of 100, ranking it #316 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 69.2.
What drives the number
Prices in Ames run at 88.8 where the national average is 100, so about 11.2 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #316 of 387 metro areas. Against Iowa as a whole it is 1 point more expensive, which is the usual direction: cities cost more than the states around them.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 69.2 against goods at 93.7 and other services at 83.0, so the overall figure of 88.8 understates how affordable the housing itself is. It is the opposite of the usual pattern, where housing is what makes a place expensive. Goods at 93.7 are themselves 6.3 points off national, which is a wide gap for a category that is mostly shipped in.
The number is most useful in reverse: a job here can pay less in cash and still leave a household better off, by roughly 11.2 per cent before anything else is considered.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Ames is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cashiers | 1,540 | $29,170 | $32,849 | $31,190 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,490 | $28,890 | $32,534 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,350 | $30,330 | $34,155 | $34,580 |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,150 | $85,550 | $96,340 | $102,950 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,120 | $36,180 | $40,743 | $37,090 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,100 | $72,920 | $82,117 | $93,600 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 980 | $28,660 | $32,275 | $33,760 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 980 | $34,220 | $38,536 | $35,930 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 88.8.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 91.9 | 86.4 | #247 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | 91.7 | 84.7 | #252 |
| Iowa City | 91.5 | 84.0 | #259 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 89.1 | 68.3 | #309 |
| Cedar Rapids | 89.0 | 71.4 | #310 |
| Dubuque | 87.3 | 64.0 | #349 |
Ames: common questions
Is Ames expensive?
Prices are 11.2% below the national average, a parity of 88.8 where the country is 100. It ranks #316 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Iowa as a whole it is 1 point more expensive.
What salary do you need in Ames?
The median worker there earns $48,860, which buys what $55,023 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 69.2 against goods at 93.7. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.