States › Iowa › Clarinda

Is Clarinda, IA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 18 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$73058% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$49,986about $4,166/month · 43% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$114,20066% 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 16.2 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $29,200 a year. That is $14 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 2 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Clarinda
$730
Centerville
$835
Algona
$979
Winterset
$1,128
Sheldon
$1,051
Red Oak
$898
Spirit Lake
$1,007

How much do households earn in Clarinda?

Under $25k
22.9%
$25k–50k
34.9%
$50k–100k
25.0%
$100k–150k
8.1%
$150k+
4.3%

Share of households by yearly income. 12.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Clarinda

SizeClarindaU.S. average
1 bedroom$557$1,324
2 bedrooms$740$1,509
3 bedrooms$867$1,698

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

How expensive is Clarinda 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 Clarinda, so the Iowa figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Clarinda

🏛️ Property tax$1,736a year · 1.52% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$108a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Clarinda

Commute to work16.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree13.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home69.4%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment6.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clarinda?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $62 a month less.

Renting
$730
Owning
$792

Owning assumes a typical $114,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $11,420 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Clarinda, IA?

Renting in Clarinda costs a median of about $730 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $29,200 a year, or $14 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Clarinda cheap or expensive?

Clarinda is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.5% of the typical household income of $49,986. It ranks 2nd cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Clarinda?

The median homeowner in Clarinda pays $1,736 a year in property taxes, about 1.52% of the median home value.

Is Clarinda 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 Clarinda?

The median home value in Clarinda is $114,200, about 2.3 times the typical yearly household income.

5,353 people live in Clarinda. Numbers are typical (middle) values.