States › Iowa › Osceola

Is Osceola, IA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 17 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,02642% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$73,644about $6,137/month · 15% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$146,30056% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 86% of 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 $41,040 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 36 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Osceola
$1,026
Spirit Lake
$1,007
Red Oak
$898
DeWitt
$1,056
Sheldon
$1,051
Anamosa
$1,007
Winterset
$1,128

How much do households earn in Osceola?

Under $25k
11.6%
$25k–50k
28.0%
$50k–100k
40.5%
$100k–150k
12.8%
$150k+
5.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 17.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Osceola

SizeOsceolaU.S. average
1 bedroom$752$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,026$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,251$1,698

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

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

Taxes and bills in Osceola

🏛️ Property tax$2,547a year · 1.74% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$177a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Osceola

Commute to work20.6 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree14%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home61.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line6.4%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Osceola?

About the same. Renting and owning cost within $11 of each other each month.

Renting
$1,026
Owning
$1,015

Owning assumes a typical $146,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $14,630 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Osceola, IA?

Renting in Osceola costs a median of about $1,026 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $41,040 a year, or $20 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Osceola cheap or expensive?

Osceola is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.7% of the typical household income of $73,644. It ranks 36th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Osceola?

The median homeowner in Osceola pays $2,547 a year in property taxes, about 1.74% of the median home value.

Is Osceola 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 Osceola?

The median home value in Osceola is $146,300, about 2.0 times the typical yearly household income.

5,523 people live in Osceola. Numbers are typical (middle) values.