Midwest ranking
23 Minnesota cities ranked by cost of living, cheapest first.
Index 81
Index 107
Sorted by cost-of-living index — lowest (most affordable) first.
| # | City | Cost index | Median rent | Median income | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Cloud | 81 | $944/mo | $58,910 | 69K | Compare → |
| 2 | Duluth | 84 | $990/mo | $63,545 | 87K | Compare → |
| 3 | Moorhead | 87 | $997/mo | $68,680 | 44K | Compare → |
| 4 | Mankato | 87 | $1,023/mo | $61,726 | 44K | Compare → |
| 5 | Rochester | 87 | $1,218/mo | $83,973 | 121K | Compare → |
| 6 | St. Paul | 105 | $1,174/mo | $69,919 | 309K | Compare → |
| 7 | Brooklyn Park | 106 | $1,244/mo | $82,271 | 85K | Compare → |
| 8 | Coon Rapids | 106 | $1,393/mo | $85,445 | 63K | Compare → |
| 9 | Minneapolis | 106 | $1,267/mo | $76,332 | 427K | Compare → |
| 10 | Shakopee | 106 | $1,417/mo | $103,924 | 44K | Compare → |
| 11 | Bloomington | 106 | $1,426/mo | $87,381 | 89K | Compare → |
| 12 | Burnsville | 106 | $1,443/mo | $85,801 | 64K | Compare → |
| 13 | Eagan | 106 | $1,490/mo | $104,101 | 68K | Compare → |
| 14 | St. Louis Park | 106 | $1,504/mo | $94,263 | 50K | Compare → |
| 15 | Apple Valley | 107 | $1,607/mo | $97,588 | 56K | Compare → |
| 16 | Lakeville | 107 | $1,623/mo | $129,069 | 71K | Compare → |
| 17 | Plymouth | 107 | $1,625/mo | $130,131 | 80K | Compare → |
| 18 | Blaine | 107 | $1,635/mo | $100,659 | 70K | Compare → |
| 19 | Minnetonka | 107 | $1,673/mo | $114,867 | 54K | Compare → |
| 20 | Edina | 107 | $1,700/mo | $125,506 | 53K | Compare → |
| 21 | Eden Prairie | 107 | $1,731/mo | $129,345 | 64K | Compare → |
| 22 | Woodbury | 107 | $1,767/mo | $125,097 | 76K | Compare → |
| 23 | Maple Grove | 107 | $1,768/mo | $127,001 | 70K | Compare → |
Why do people move to Minnesota? The most common reasons line up with what the data and geography support: real low-cost-of-living options exist here, statewide income runs well above the national norm, plus 3 more. The rest is below.
The cheapest city in Minnesota we have data for is St. Cloud, sitting at a cost-of-living index of 81 — about 19% under the US average. If affordability is the priority, Minnesota gives you a real option, not a "well, this town is technically here" caveat.
Median household income averaged across Minnesota cities lands at about $95,893, well above the US median of roughly $75k. Minnesota's economy leans heavily on industries that pay well — and the income distribution reflects it.
We track 23 Minnesota cities with full cost data, ranging from small towns to major metros. That means you can actually pick a fit — urban density vs. small-town quiet, expensive vs. cheap, big-job-market vs. easier-commute — instead of having "the state's one big city" be your only option.
Minnesota sits on the Great Lakes — Lake Michigan, Erie, Huron, Superior, or Ontario, depending on which corner of the state you're in. The lakes mean real beaches, real summer water activities, and a moderating effect on inland weather that the rest of the Midwest doesn't get.
Minnesota has the full four-season rotation, with winters that are cold enough to matter — meaning real snow, real ski resorts, and a culture that's built around it instead of pretending it isn't happening. If winter is a thing you actively like, this is the side of the country to be on.
Reasons reflect aggregated city data for Minnesota (Census ACS, BLS, BEA) plus well-known state-level geography. We only list points that are actually supported — different states show different sections.
Across Minnesota, St. Cloud is the most affordable city we track (cost index 81, with median rent around $944/mo), while Maple Grove sits at the top of the range with an index of 107—roughly 31% pricier than St. Cloud. Use the table above to compare any Minnesota city directly against St. Cloud.
The other end of the ranking — priciest first.