CostIndexUSA

Hartford, CT vs Iowa City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CT
Hartford
102.7
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Iowa City is moderately cheaper than Hartford — 10.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Hartford, you would need $71,300 in Iowa City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.8%
Hartford
110.2
Iowa City
84
🛒 Groceries3.7%
Hartford
97.3
Iowa City
93.7
🚗 Transportation9.5%
Hartford
107.8
Iowa City
97.6
🏥 Healthcare9.4%
Hartford
97.5
Iowa City
88.3
Utilities42.2%
Hartford
144.9
Iowa City
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Iowa City, IA
$71,300
$8,700 less needed in Iowa City

Formula: salary × (91.5 ÷ 102.7) = salary × 0.8909. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Hartford, CT

Median Home Price
$377,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
110.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Iowa City, IA

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

Hartford has 23.8% lower housing costs compared to Iowa City.

Income & Job Market

Hartford, CT

Median Household Income
$92,200
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
121,054
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentEducation

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).

Hartford, CT
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.