States › Iowa › Grinnell

Is Grinnell, IA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 18 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,04141% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$70,448about $5,871/month · 19% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$209,50037% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 85% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 12.3 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $41,640 a year. That is $20 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 39 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Grinnell
$1,041
Fairfield
$864
Keokuk
$691
Mount Pleasant
$943
Fort Madison
$1,062
Carroll
$798
Waverly
$1,253

How much do households earn in Grinnell?

Under $25k
15.5%
$25k–50k
22.9%
$50k–100k
29.6%
$100k–150k
14.0%
$150k+
9.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 23.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Grinnell

SizeGrinnellU.S. average
1 bedroom$790$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,051$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,354$1,698

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

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

Taxes and bills in Grinnell

🏛️ Property tax$3,156a year · 1.51% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$194a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Grinnell

Commute to work12.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree37.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home64.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line11.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Grinnell?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $413 a month less.

Renting
$1,041
Owning
$1,454

Owning assumes a typical $209,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $20,950 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Grinnell, IA?

Renting in Grinnell costs a median of about $1,041 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $41,640 a year, or $20 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Grinnell cheap or expensive?

Grinnell is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.7% of the typical household income of $70,448. It ranks 39th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Grinnell?

The median homeowner in Grinnell pays $3,156 a year in property taxes, about 1.51% of the median home value.

Is Grinnell 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 Grinnell?

The median home value in Grinnell is $209,500, about 3.0 times the typical yearly household income.

9,505 people live in Grinnell. Numbers are typical (middle) values.