States › Iowa › Decorah

Is Decorah, IA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 20 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,13036% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$69,419about $5,785/month · 20% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$244,50027% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 80% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.5 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 12.8 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $45,200 a year. That is $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Iowa cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Iowa. It is number 51 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Decorah
$1,130
Knoxville
$1,125
Clear Lake
$1,435
Creston
$777
Webster City
$1,186
Washington
$1,071
Charles City
$925

How much do households earn in Decorah?

Under $25k
15.7%
$25k–50k
25.6%
$50k–100k
38.5%
$100k–150k
10.8%
$150k+
5.9%

Share of households by yearly income. 16.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Decorah

SizeDecorahU.S. average
1 bedroom$664$1,324
2 bedrooms$926$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,423$1,698
4 bedrooms$911$2,098

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

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

Taxes and bills in Decorah

🏛️ Property tax$3,438a year · 1.41% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$116a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Decorah

Commute to work12.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree42.2%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home61.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line8.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Decorah?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $566 a month less.

Renting
$1,130
Owning
$1,696

Owning assumes a typical $244,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $24,450 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Decorah, IA?

Renting in Decorah costs a median of about $1,130 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $45,200 a year, or $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Decorah cheap or expensive?

Decorah is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.5% of the typical household income of $69,419. It ranks 51st cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Decorah?

The median homeowner in Decorah pays $3,438 a year in property taxes, about 1.41% of the median home value.

Is Decorah 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 Decorah?

The median home value in Decorah is $244,500, about 3.5 times the typical yearly household income.

7,535 people live in Decorah. Numbers are typical (middle) values.