States › Iowa › Atlantic

Is Atlantic, IA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 16 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$86551% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$65,941about $5,495/month · 24% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$149,90055% lower than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 10.8 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $34,600 a year. That is $17 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Iowa cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Iowa. It is number 13 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Atlantic
$865
Eldridge
$1,045
Nevada
$1,438
Adel
$1,024
Orange City
$850
Hiawatha
$949
Charles City
$925

How much do households earn in Atlantic?

Under $25k
25.9%
$25k–50k
16.9%
$50k–100k
35.4%
$100k–150k
11.3%
$150k+
5.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 16.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Atlantic

SizeAtlanticU.S. average
1 bedroom$646$1,324
2 bedrooms$819$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,145$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Atlantic overall?

Everyday prices in Iowa overall are 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
65
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
83
Other services
93
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Atlantic, so the Iowa figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Atlantic

🏛️ Property tax$2,368a year · 1.58% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$125a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Atlantic

Commute to work10.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree23%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home62.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line17.4%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Atlantic?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $175 a month less.

Renting
$865
Owning
$1,040

Owning assumes a typical $149,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $14,990 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Atlantic, IA?

Renting in Atlantic costs a median of about $865 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

How much do I need to make to live in Atlantic?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $34,600 a year, or $17 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Atlantic cheap or expensive?

Atlantic is rated Cheap: rent takes 15.7% of the typical household income of $65,941. It ranks 13th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Atlantic?

The median homeowner in Atlantic pays $2,368 a year in property taxes, about 1.58% of the median home value.

Is Atlantic more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Iowa are 12% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Atlantic?

The median home value in Atlantic is $149,900, about 2.3 times the typical yearly household income.

6,763 people live in Atlantic. Numbers are typical (middle) values.