States › Iowa › Estherville

Is Estherville, IA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 17 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$83452% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$58,373about $4,864/month · 33% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$101,40070% 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.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $33,360 a year. That is $16 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 8 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Estherville
$834
Oelwein
$937
Tiffin
$1,524
Asbury
$1,683
Polk City
$865
Anamosa
$1,007
Maquoketa
$879

How much do households earn in Estherville?

Under $25k
18.8%
$25k–50k
31.8%
$50k–100k
35.7%
$100k–150k
6.2%
$150k+
3.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 9.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Estherville

SizeEsthervilleU.S. average
1 bedroom$528$1,324
2 bedrooms$769$1,509
3 bedrooms$921$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,135$2,098

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

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

Taxes and bills in Estherville

🏛️ Property tax$1,754a year · 1.73% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$139a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Estherville

Commute to work21.5 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree13.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home73.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Estherville?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $130 a month less than renting.

Renting
$834
Owning
$704

Owning assumes a typical $101,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $10,140 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Estherville, IA?

Renting in Estherville costs a median of about $834 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $33,360 a year, or $16 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Estherville cheap or expensive?

Estherville is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.1% of the typical household income of $58,373. It ranks 8th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Estherville?

The median homeowner in Estherville pays $1,754 a year in property taxes, about 1.73% of the median home value.

Is Estherville 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 Estherville?

The median home value in Estherville is $101,400, about 1.7 times the typical yearly household income.

5,839 people live in Estherville. Numbers are typical (middle) values.