What is the cost of living in Estherville, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Estherville has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Estherville has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Estherville ranks as #23 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Estherville ranks as the #62 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Estherville, check out:
Estherville Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Estherville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Estherville is 102.
The Groceries index in Estherville is 103.
The Health index in Estherville is 52.
The Housing index in Estherville is 98.
The Transportation index in Estherville is 107.
The Utilities index in Estherville is 98.
| Living Expense | Estherville | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 52 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 94 | 100 |
Estherville Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Estherville Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Estherville, IA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Estherville is $122,713.
The Median Rent in Estherville is $754.
The Median Income in Estherville is $54,124.
The Home Value To Income in Estherville is 2.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Estherville is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Estherville | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $122,713 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $754 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $54,124 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.3x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Estherville, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Estherville Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Estherville | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.06 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.06 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.42 | $45.56 |
Detailed Estherville Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Estherville | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.78 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.68 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.97 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.74 | $3.7 |
Detailed Estherville Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Estherville | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $144.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $181.22 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Estherville Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Estherville | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.83 | $59.92 |
Detailed Estherville Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Estherville | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.27 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.1 | $192.25 |
Estherville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Estherville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Estherville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Worthington, MN has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Estherville.
Spencer, IA has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Estherville.
Fairmont, MN has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Estherville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Estherville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worthington, MN | 13,780 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Spencer, IA | 11,400 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Fairmont, MN | 10,296 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 5,518 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Algona, IA | 5,377 | 95 | 1.1x |
