2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Ames, IA vs Muscatine, IA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Muscatine or is it cheaper to live in Ames?
- Muscatine is 12.1% less expensive than Ames.

Which city has more affordable housing, Muscatine or Ames?
- Muscatine housing costs are 48.1% less expensive than Ames housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Ames or is Health Care more affordable in Muscatine.
- Health related expenses are 13.2% less in Muscatine.
 Ames, IAMuscatine, IAUnited States
 Overall87.677.0100
 Food & Groceries97.395.4100
 Health120.8104.8100
 Housing88.545.9100
 Median Home Cost$239,100$163,800$338,100
 Utilities9,860.0%10,140.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation67.262.2100
 Miscellaneous114.191.9100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 12 years ago

Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for  More

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Over 12 years ago

Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events  More

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Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000  More

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Reviews for Muscatine    3 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

We recently relocated here in October for my husbands work. This is a beautiful city located on the mississippi river. It boasts of state of the art playground equipment  More

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Over 14 years ago

This is the worst place that I have ever lived. There is nothing to do here except drugs. The schools are also terrible. I ended up sending my son to a private boarding  More

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Over 18 years ago

We live just outside of Muscatine,On a bluff looking over the Mississippi river. We have a great view of the river( never floods) and a house in our subdivision just  More

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