| Index | Emmetsburg | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 89 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 63 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 104 | 94 | 100 |

| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $86,261 | $7,188 | $2,013 | $2,588 |
| Renters | $40,082 | $3,340 | $935 | $1,203 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 4.4% | 6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Curlew, IA | 69 | 74 | 26.3% |
| Ayrshire, IA | 148 | 76 | 24.4% |
| Rodman, IA | 24 | 75 | 25.1% |
| Ringsted, IA | 483 | 79 | 21.1% |
| Fenton, IA | 241 | 80 | 20.2% |
| Emmetsburg, IA | 3,851 | 89 | 10.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| San Andreas, CA | 3,850 | 125 | 24.9% |
| Albia, IA | 3,852 | 83 | 16.6% |
| Collinsville, CT | 3,849 | 127 | 26.9% |
| Penhold, AB | 3,849 | n/a | |
| Leisure Village West, NJ | 3,853 | 107 | 7.4% |
| Emmetsburg, IA | 3,851 | 89 | 10.7% |