2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Iowa City, IA vs Fort Dodge, IA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Fort Dodge or is it cheaper to live in Iowa City?
- Fort Dodge is 20.1% less expensive than Iowa City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Fort Dodge or Iowa City?
- Fort Dodge housing costs are 61.5% less expensive than Iowa City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Iowa City or is Health Care more affordable in Fort Dodge.
- Health related expenses are 19.0% more in Fort Dodge.
 Iowa City, IAFort Dodge, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock71.6100
 Food & Groceries99.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock123.8100
 Housing78.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$113,300$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock58.8100
 Miscellaneous117.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Iowa City    24 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

I was there 5 years. Nothing to do but we’ll go shopping... at Walmart. It lacks so many things. There is no experience here, it jumps on any political band wagon and  More

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Over 5 years ago

Entertainment lacks greatly - especially the Hancher shows. I was hoping after they rebuilt they would be getting better shows there, that didn't happen. One has to  More

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Over 7 years ago

Iowa City is great. It's diverse and never boring. There always a variety of new shops and restaurants to explore and try out. Also watching college kids do stupid  More

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Reviews for Fort Dodge    4 Reviews

Corrupt politicians always scheming to funnel public money to wealthy private interests, creating a welfare dependent economy that will be imploding sooner than later,  More

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Over 10 years ago

Before moving to the Fort Dodge area please consider other options. The city is a decaying town, streets have definitely seen better days and are filthy. There are not  More

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Over 15 years ago

I see that everyone is rather hard on Fort Dodge. I grew up and lived there until I married and (like a failed pioneer) moved east to Gettysburg, Pa. It was the best  More

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