Estherville, IA vs Monroe, IA

Estherville is moderately more affordable than Monroe, with a 11.7% lower cost of living index. Estherville scores 62 compared to 70 for Monroe, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Monroe can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Estherville is $739/month compared to $780/month in Monroe — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Estherville is more affordable at $96,300 median vs $173,500.

Median household income in Estherville is $54,624 compared to $81,488 in Monroe (-33%). While Monroe 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 11.5% in Monroe.