Estherville, IA vs Grimes, IA

The cost of living difference between Estherville, IA and Grimes, IA is dramatic. Estherville is 31.4% cheaper than Grimes, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Estherville has a cost index of 62 while Grimes sits at 91, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Estherville is $739/month compared to $1,156/month in Grimes — a 36% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Estherville is more affordable at $96,300 median vs $281,000.

Median household income in Estherville is $54,624 compared to $104,497 in Grimes (-47.7%). While Grimes is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Estherville spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, more than the 13.3% in Grimes.