Iowa · Census, HUD and BEA figures · Updated

Cost of Living in Muscatine County, IA

Prices around Muscatine County, IA run 12.2% below the U.S. average (BEA, Iowa). The typical household there earns $69,396 a year, and HUD puts a two-bedroom at $1,071 a month. Keeping that rent under 30% of income takes about $42,840 a year.

Muscatine County, IA at a glance

Median household income

$69,396$5,783 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year
2-bedroom rent$1,071HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent
Price level (U.S. = 100)87.8-12.2% · BEA, Iowa
Electricity15.9¢per kWh · EIA Residential IA
Population42,559Census ACS 5-year estimate

How much rent can you afford in Muscatine County, IA?

HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.

Affordable (< 30% of income)
HUD Fair Market Rent$1,071Monthly market rent
Share of gross income18.5%Recommended max: 30%
Annual income needed$42,840To meet the 30% standard
Max affordable rent$1,735At 30% of $69,396
0%30% (Affordability standard)100%
Compare against:

How much is rent in Muscatine County, IA? By bedroom, 2026

HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Muscatine County, IA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.

HUD Fair Market Rent in Muscatine County, IA, fiscal 2026
Unit SizeMonthly RentAnnual Rent30% Rule Min. Income% of Median Income
Studio / Efficiency$795$9,540$31,80013.7%
1-Bedroom Apartment$858$10,296$34,32014.8%
2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark$1,071$12,852$42,84018.5%
3-Bedroom Home$1,374$16,488$54,96023.8%
4-Bedroom Home$1,605$19,260$64,20027.8%

Rent in Muscatine County, IA, with the wage each unit needs →

What a typical income covers in Muscatine County, IA

The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $69,396 a year ($5,783 a month before tax).

Needs (50%)$2,892/moRent ($1,071 2-BR), utilities (~$143/mo), groceries, transit
Wants (30%)$1,735/moEating out, travel, subscriptions and the rest
Savings and debt (20%)$1,157/moEmergency fund, retirement, paying down loans

What $69,396 leaves after Iowa taxes

Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Iowa tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.

$69,396
$25,000$140,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$69,396
Net 80%
Fed 9%
IA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$55,665After all taxes
Monthly deposit$4,639Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$2,141Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate19.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$6,437 / yr
Iowa state income tax$1,985 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$5,309 / yr

Living in Muscatine County, IA: common questions

What is the median household income in Muscatine County, IA?

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Muscatine County, IA is $69,396 per year (approximately $5,783 per month).

What is the average rent in Muscatine County, IA?

The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $795 for a studio, $858 for one bedroom, $1,071 for two, $1,374 for three and $1,605 for four, utilities included.

It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.

Is Muscatine County, IA expensive to live in?

Prices there run 12.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Iowa is 87.8, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.

How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Muscatine County, IA?

To keep a $1,071 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $42,840 a year, or $3,570 a month. That is 62% of what the typical household in Muscatine County, IA earns.

How much do you need to live comfortably in Muscatine County, IA?

On the local median income of $69,396 ($5,783 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,892 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,735 for everything else and $1,157 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,071 takes 37% of the needs share.

How much is the electric bill in Muscatine County, IA?

Homes in Iowa paid 15.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $143. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.