Ankeny, IA vs Iowa City, IA

Iowa City is moderately more affordable than Ankeny, with a 10.3% lower cost of living index. Ankeny scores 97 compared to 88 for Iowa City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Ankeny can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ankeny is $1,279/month compared to $1,094/month in Iowa City — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Iowa City is more affordable at $273,600 median vs $311,300.

Median household income in Ankeny is $106,603 compared to $57,533 in Iowa City (+85.3%). While Ankeny is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ankeny spend roughly 14.4% of their income on rent, less than the 22.8% in Iowa City.