Home project costs in Iowa City, IA
Every project we cover, priced for the Iowa City metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
Iowa City sits 221st of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 91.5 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 93.7 (263rd). The metro has about 93,760 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 0 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 35 below, and 3 are level with it. Paver patio (level), attic insulation (level) and retaining wall (level) sit highest, and composite deck (−11%), kitchen cabinets (−11%) and home addition (−10%) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Iowa City Muni Ap, 2 miles away) shows a January average low of 15°F, a July average high of 86°F and 36 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are May through October; for exterior installation, they are March through November.
What local trades earn in Iowa City
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $21.87 | $23.05 | $28.74 | $22.66 | 1.02 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $21.98 | $23.89 | $29.70 | $29.12 | 0.82 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $27.22 | $29.10 | $34.14 | $28.78 | 1.01 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $23.29 | $29.49 | $36.43 | $30.67 | 0.96 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $24.95 | $27.95 | $29.32 | $27.41 | 1.02 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $21.93 | $28.61 | $34.19 | $30.38 | 0.94 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.65 | n/a |
Concrete & paving in Iowa City
Across these 7 projects, Iowa City averages −2% against national midpoints. Paver patio is highest at level and concrete slab lowest at −4%.
| Project | Size | Iowa City range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Iowa City | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $5,000 | −4% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Iowa City | 600 sq ft | $3,550 – $9,000 | −2% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Iowa City | 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,350 | −1% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Iowa City | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,950 | −2% |
| Paver patio cost in Iowa City | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| Concrete patio cost in Iowa City | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −3% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Iowa City | 400 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,750 | −2% |
Decks & outdoor in Iowa City
Across these 2 projects, Iowa City averages −10% against national midpoints. Wood deck is highest at −10% and composite deck lowest at −11%.
| Project | Size | Iowa City range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Iowa City | 300 sq ft | $6,800 – $13,700 | −10% |
| Composite deck cost in Iowa City | 300 sq ft | $10,700 – $21,500 | −11% |
Building & additions in Iowa City
The 2 jobs here average −9% versus the US in Iowa City, from −10% (home addition) to −8% (detached garage).
| Project | Size | Iowa City range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Iowa City | 576 sq ft | $26,700 – $53,600 | −8% |
| Home addition cost in Iowa City | 300 sq ft | $34,100 – $69,000 | −10% |
Doors & windows in Iowa City
Across these 5 projects, Iowa City averages −8% against national midpoints. Window replacement is highest at −7% and storm door lowest at −10%.
| Project | Size | Iowa City range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Iowa City | 1 door | $640 – $3,400 | −8% |
| Storm door cost in Iowa City | 1 door | $310 – $860 | −10% |
| Front door cost in Iowa City | 1 door | $440 – $2,300 | −9% |
| Window replacement cost in Iowa City | 10 windows | $4,200 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Patio door cost in Iowa City | 1 door | $550 – $5,500 | −9% |
Fencing in Iowa City
Across these 4 projects, Iowa City averages −7% against national midpoints. Aluminum fence is highest at −6% and wood fence lowest at −8%.
| Project | Size | Iowa City range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Iowa City | 150 linear ft | $2,800 – $7,050 | −8% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Iowa City | 150 linear ft | $4,250 – $8,550 | −7% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Iowa City | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,750 | −6% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Iowa City | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
Roofing & exterior in Iowa City
Across these 5 projects, Iowa City averages −5% against national midpoints. Attic insulation is highest at level and roof replacement lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Iowa City range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Iowa City | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,550 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Metal roof cost in Iowa City | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,450 – $30,400 | −7% |
| Gutters cost in Iowa City | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,000 | −4% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Iowa City | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,200 | −8% |
| Attic insulation cost in Iowa City | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,000 | level |
Kitchen & bath in Iowa City
The 5 jobs here average −7% versus the US in Iowa City, from −11% (kitchen cabinets) to −5% (shower pan).
| Project | Size | Iowa City range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Iowa City | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,400 | −11% |
| Shower pan cost in Iowa City | 1 pan | $890 – $2,650 | −5% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Iowa City | 120 sq ft | $17,100 – $29,200 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Iowa City | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,600 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Iowa City | 30 sq ft | $280 – $1,400 | −5% |
Landscaping & drainage in Iowa City
The 5 jobs here average −2% versus the US in Iowa City, from −3% (sprinkler system) to level (retaining wall).
| Project | Size | Iowa City range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Iowa City | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,050 | −1% |
| Retaining wall cost in Iowa City | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,150 – $13,300 | level |
| Sod installation cost in Iowa City | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Iowa City | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,650 | −3% |
| Inground pool cost in Iowa City | 450 sq ft | $35,600 – $111,000 | −1% |
Flooring & interior in Iowa City
Across these 3 projects, Iowa City averages −7% against national midpoints. Tile flooring is highest at −4% and hardwood flooring lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Iowa City range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Iowa City | 500 sq ft | $5,000 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Iowa City | 500 sq ft | $1,850 – $6,450 | −8% |
| Tile flooring cost in Iowa City | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,500 | −4% |
Iowa City against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, Iowa City comes out −6% versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 6 price higher and none lower. Dubuque is the lowest at −3% (75 miles) and Peoria the highest at +10% (120 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IAthis page | 91.5 | 93.7 | −6% | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 40 miles | 89.0 | 93.7 | −2% |
| Davenport, IA | 60 miles | 89.1 | 94.2 | −1% |
| Dubuque, IA | 75 miles | 87.3 | 93.7 | −3% |
| Waterloo, IA | 80 miles | 87.1 | 93.7 | −2% |
| Des Moines, IA | 110 miles | 91.7 | 93.7 | −1% |
| Peoria, IL | 120 miles | 91.2 | 93.6 | +10% |