| Index | Elkader | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 87 | 90 | 100 |
| Goods & Services | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 91 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 65 | 73 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 96 | 100 |


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| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $61,250 | $5,104 | $1,429 | $1,838 |
| Renters | $47,833 | $3,986 | $1,116 | $1,435 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 4.4% | 6% |
| Item | Elkader | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $23.86 | $24.26 | 1.7% |
| Beauty Salon | $34.11 | $45.56 | 25.1% |
| Toothpaste | $3.59 | $3.70 | 3.0% |
| Shampoo | $1.36 | $1.28 | 6.5% |
| Movie | $8.68 | $12.13 | 28.4% |
| Bowling | $15.39 | $18.00 | 14.5% |
| Item | Elkader | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $5.38 | $5.84 | 7.9% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.40 | $1.57 | 10.8% |
| Milk | $4.77 | $4.67 | 2.1% |
| Potatoes | $4.76 | $4.93 | 3.6% |
| Pizza | $12.46 | $12.09 | 3.1% |
| Beer | $9.93 | $10.41 | 4.6% |
| Item | Elkader | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $127.39 | $125.68 | 1.4% |
| Doctor | $130.00 | $135.78 | 4.3% |
| Dentist | $85.78 | $113.29 | 24.3% |
| Ibuprofen | $10.82 | $10.65 | 1.6% |
| Lipitor | $498.96 | $468.60 | 6.5% |
| Item | Elkader | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $109,500.00 | $184,700.00 | 40.7% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $1,665.29 | $2,346.69 | 29.0% |
| Apartment Rent | $737.00 | $949.00 | 22.3% |
| Item | Elkader | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $3.44 | $3.46 | 0.5% |
| Tire Balancing | $68.44 | $59.92 | 14.2% |
| Item | Elkader | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $176.50 | $193.99 | 9.0% |
| Phone | $187.56 | $192.25 | 2.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Elkport, IA | 18 | 77 | 23.4% |
| Osterdock, IA | 124 | 80 | 19.6% |
| Farmersburg, IA | 371 | 80 | 19.6% |
| Wadena, IA | 220 | 74 | 25.9% |
| Garber, IA | 104 | 81 | 19.1% |
| Elkader, IA | 1,362 | 87 | 12.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Harlem Heights, FL | 1,362 | 95 | 4.7% |
| Arma, KS | 1,362 | 78 | 21.7% |
| Glyndon, MN | 1,362 | 94 | 5.5% |
| Maury, NC | 1,362 | 86 | 13.7% |
| St. Peter, WI | 1,362 | 109 | 9.1% |
| Elkader, IA | 1,362 | 87 | 12.6% |