The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Minnesota In 2024


The most affordable places to live in Minnesota for 2024 are Thief River Falls, International Falls, and Albert Lea according to Saturday Night Science.

You’ll need to have a Minnesota Woodsman’s ethos to enjoy the lowest cost of living places in the North Star State.

It turns out the exurbs are home to the most affordable places to live in Minnesota

We determined the most affordable places to live in Minnesota using Saturday Night Science. Using the Census data for home prices, incomes, and cost of living, we ranked every city in Minnesota in terms of affordability.

So, crank some Purple Rain, grab some hot dish, and read on to find your place amongst the 11,000 lakes.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary


Most Affordable Cities In Minnesota Map

What is the most affordable place to live in Minnesota? The most affordable place to live in Minnesota is Thief River Falls after crunching data from the US Census regarding median housing costs, median income, and overall cost of living for cities with over 5,000 residents.

Affordability in the North Star State means you can spend the extra change in your pocket on Minnesota Vikings tickets, a cabin on Leech Lake, or a staycation in one of Minnesota’s big cities.

Check out some more reading about Minnesota and the cheapest places in the country:

The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Minnesota For 2024

Thief River Falls, MN

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 8,871
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $65,086
Median Home Price: $188,664
Median Rent: $921

Thief River Falls, in Pennington County, ranks first in affordability within Minnesota with a $188,664 median home value and a $921 median rent. Affordable attractions in the town include the Thief River Falls Public Library and the Pennington County Historical Society.

The overall cost-of-living index is 83, ensuring that thrift thrives in Thief River Falls.

More on Thief River Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

International Falls, MN

Source: Wikipedia User Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 5,795
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $54,680
Median Home Price: $104,810
Median Rent: $684

Located on the border of Canada, International Falls goes by the nickname “Icebox of the Nation.” But if you can withstand the bitter cold, International Falls has some sweet deals for you. The first least expensive homes in Minnesota are in International Falls, where the median home price is $104,810. With residents earning a median income of $54,680, International Falls has one of the best home price to income ratios in the state.

As a budgeting bonus, admission to Smokey Bear Park is totally free. Just don’t get spooked by the 26-foot bear when you drive in.

More on International Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Albert Lea, MN

Source: Wikipedia User Jonathunder | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 18,434
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $56,347
Median Home Price: $145,782
Median Rent: $814

Albert Lea, situated in the southern part of Minnesota, shines as the third most affordable city thanks to its reasonable housing costs, where it ranks 4.0 in home values, and a favorable 2.59 ratio. The city’s economic stability is evident through its placement in the 4th quartile for income levels and a modest 5.12%, ensuring that living expenses are well within reach for its residents. Albert Lea leverages its location at the crossroads of Interstates 35 and 90, offering both affordability and a high quality of life in MN.

More on Albert Lea: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Worthington, MN

Source: Wikipedia User Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) | CC BY-SA 2.5
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 13,838
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $58,690
Median Home Price: $209,517
Median Rent: $871

It’s definitely worth the savings to consider moving to Worthington in southwestern Minnesota. The city’s cost of living is 18.4% cheaper than the Minnesota average, making it an economical enclave.

According to Zillow data, the city’s housing market is affordable, with a median home value of $209,517. You can use that money you save on housing to add bacon to your next Jucy Lucy.

More on Worthington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Marshall, MN

Source: Wikipedia User Jon Platek | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 13,647
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $60,532
Median Home Price: $221,674
Median Rent: $715

Next, we marshall you along to Marshall, the fifth least expensive city in the North Star State. Like any upstanding Sargeant, Marshall offers its residents the peace of mind of an overall cost of living 19 points better than the state average.

Located in Lyon County in western Minnesota, Marshall is close to Camden State Park for affordable fun.

More on Marshall: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Crookston, MN

Source: Flickr User uberculture | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 7,472
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $52,557
Median Home Price: $174,805
Median Rent: $825

You don’t need to be a crook to have all the money you need in Crookston, the sixth most inexpensive city in Minnesota. The median home price in Crookston is $174,805 and the median income is $52,557, so paying off the mortgage in Crookston happens in no time flat. With a median rent of $825, Crookston isn’t as affordable for renters, when looked at as a proportion of income.

Crookston is in the northwestern part of the state, a half hour southeast of Grand Forks, North Dakota.

More on Crookston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Austin, MN

Source: Wikipedia User Dtomlins | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 26,156
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $61,667
Median Home Price: $159,687
Median Rent: $877

Austin ranks as the seventh most affordable city in Minnesota for 2024.

Austin’s overall cost of living index of 86 is supported by low index values for utilities, services, and healthcare. According to Zillow, home prices are only $159,687, which is seventh cheapest in the state.

More on Austin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Fairmont, MN

Source: Wikipedia User Jon Platek | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 10,411
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $56,744
Median Home Price: $155,351
Median Rent: $748

Fairmont makes the cut as the eighth most affordable place in Minnesota by virtue of having the sixth cheapest homes in the state. The median home price in Fairmont is $155,351 and the median income is $56,744, so it’s a piece of cake paying the mortgage off. Complete with seven parks and countless nature trails, you’ll never go wanting for free entertainment in Fairmont either.

Fairmont is located in the south-central part of Minnesota, near the Iowa border.

More on Fairmont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Waseca, MN

Source: Wikipedia User Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) | CC BY-SA 2.5
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 9,208
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $62,632
Median Home Price: $229,401
Median Rent: $838

Waseca snuck onto the list of the least expensive locales in Minnesota this year. With an overall cost of living index of 87, the city is 15.5% cheaper than the Minnesota average city.

Relative to the rest of the list, Waseca scored well for utilities, meaning you’ll pay less for heat and save that money for heating a campfire during a camping trip to Kiesler’s Campground.

More on Waseca: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

10. Redwood Falls

Redwood Falls, MN

Source: Wikipedia User AlexiusHoratius | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 5,091
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $64,214
Median Home Price: $149,029
Median Rent: $833

Located in the south-central part of the state, Redwood Falls ranks as the tenth most affordable city in Minnesota. Redwood Falls has the fifth cheapest homes in the state, with a median price tag of $149,029. Coupled with a median income of $64,214, Redwood Falls has the second lowest home price to income ratio in Minnesota. If you stick to free activities like hiking at Alexander Ramsey Park, you’ll have even more money left in your wallet at the end of every week.

More on Redwood Falls: Real Estate

Cheapest places to live in Minnesota FAQs

The county in Minnesota with the lowest cost of living is Faribault County. The average living wage in Faribault County is $83,518 according to MIT data. Faribault County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Minnesota as a whole. Childcare costs $12,417 a year in Faribault County for two children compared to the Minnesota average of $17,401. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,808 per year in Faribault County compared to $13,400 on average in Minnesota.

The cost of living in Minnesota is 5.2% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Minnesota is $94,430 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Minnesota household is $73,382.

The cheapest housing market in Minnesota is Virginia. The average home value in Virginia is $90,800, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Minnesota is $235,700, almost 2.6 times higher than Virginia.

Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the North Star State for 2024

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In Minnesota
Determining affordability for places in Minnesota boils down to how much it costs to live here.

You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.

With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Minnesota using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:

  • Housing
  • Transportation
  • Services
  • Groceries
  • Healthcare
  • Utilities

These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.

We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Minnesota to figure out which is the least expensive.

The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 146 places in Minnesota that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.

The place in Minnesota with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Thief River Falls.

We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Minnesota.

Minnesota Affordabilility Summary

This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Minnesota for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Minnesota.

The cheapest cities in Minnesota are Thief River Falls, International Falls, Albert Lea, Worthington, Marshall, Crookston, Austin, Fairmont, Waseca, and Redwood Falls.

Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Minnesota according to the data:

  1. Orono
  2. North Oaks
  3. Medina

For more Minnesota reading, check out:

Cheapest Places To Live In Minnesota

Rank City Population Cost Of Living Index Median Income Home Prices Rent
1 Thief River Falls 8,871 83 $65,086 $188,664 $921
2 International Falls 5,795 83 $54,680 $104,810 $684
3 Albert Lea 18,434 84 $56,347 $145,782 $814
4 Worthington 13,838 84 $58,690 $209,517 $871
5 Marshall 13,647 84 $60,532 $221,674 $715
6 Crookston 7,472 84 $52,557 $174,805 $825
7 Austin 26,156 86 $61,667 $159,687 $877
8 Fairmont 10,411 86 $56,744 $155,351 $748
9 Waseca 9,208 87 $62,632 $229,401 $838
10 Redwood Falls 5,091 87 $64,214 $149,029 $833
11 Virginia 8,415 88 $49,789 $122,426 $778
12 Faribault 24,418 89 $58,881 $275,401 $1,044
13 Bemidji 15,441 90 $49,799 $201,734 $955
14 New Ulm 14,055 91 $59,985 $215,828 $883
15 Stewartville 6,684 91 $92,961 $304,105 $945
16 Montevideo 5,350 91 $49,435 $188,019 $762
17 Owatonna 26,400 92 $78,295 $269,150 $925
18 Little Falls 9,084 92 $44,455 $250,605 $775
19 Glencoe 5,712 92 $67,547 $231,977 $851
20 Rochester 120,848 93 $83,973 $309,298 $1,218
21 Moorhead 44,443 93 $68,680 $257,334 $997
22 Winona 26,083 93 $52,500 $220,768 $773
23 Detroit Lakes 9,966 93 $60,317 $361,398 $894
24 Kasson 6,855 93 $91,581 $298,905 $796
25 Isanti 6,850 93 $76,146 $316,531 $1,118
26 Mankato 44,444 94 $61,726 $283,705 $1,023
27 Red Wing 16,627 94 $65,107 $270,582 $910
28 Hibbing 16,167 94 $52,881 $142,670 $698
29 Cambridge 9,726 94 $64,286 $306,192 $1,207
30 East Grand Forks 9,118 94 $81,783 $260,596 $826
31 Brooklyn Center 33,109 95 $70,692 $278,078 $1,249
32 South St. Paul 20,598 95 $82,644 $280,795 $1,094
33 Brainerd 14,412 96 $46,933 $283,659 $799
34 Fergus Falls 14,108 96 $48,738 $183,271 $755
35 Cloquet 12,559 96 $59,647 $225,901 $980
36 St. Peter 12,039 96 $67,255 $272,777 $928
37 Belle Plaine 7,363 96 $94,698 $337,852 $1,256
38 Duluth 86,772 97 $63,545 $257,413 $990
39 Fridley 29,731 97 $76,592 $302,586 $1,227
40 North Mankato 14,238 97 $74,602 $285,195 $886
41 Litchfield 6,598 97 $60,804 $224,619 $878
42 St. Paul Park 5,497 97 $92,760 $293,855 $1,689
43 Morris 5,094 97 $59,261 $187,428 $816
44 St. Cloud 68,910 98 $58,910 $233,113 $944
45 Hastings 22,063 98 $87,722 $313,784 $1,146
46 Willmar 21,006 98 $59,132 $219,141 $791
47 West St. Paul 20,820 98 $68,359 $296,144 $1,204
48 Anoka 17,892 98 $73,118 $308,373 $1,179
49 Grand Rapids 11,158 98 $53,317 $234,222 $946
50 North Branch 10,968 98 $94,564 $332,334 $1,085
51 St. Joseph 7,066 98 $74,318 $303,966 $1,037
52 Byron 6,373 98 $126,250 $362,923 $989
53 Lake City 5,108 98 $71,324 $289,322 $971
54 St. Paul 308,806 99 $69,919 $278,672 $1,174
55 Northfield 20,518 99 $83,125 $358,052 $955
56 Hutchinson 14,588 99 $64,635 $275,891 $841
57 Sauk Rapids 13,830 99 $66,442 $275,189 $927
58 Waite Park 8,290 99 $52,391 $229,447 $1,023
59 Spring Lake Park 6,966 99 $74,697 $299,120 $1,281
60 Crystal 22,954 100 $86,288 $296,320 $1,351
61 Mounds View 13,100 100 $89,358 $322,091 $1,174
62 North St. Paul 12,465 100 $77,475 $304,655 $1,226
63 Big Lake 11,857 100 $100,188 $351,813 $1,282
64 La Crescent 5,352 100 $70,813 $309,576 $953
65 Robbinsdale 14,452 101 $80,125 $296,059 $1,397
66 Vadnais Heights 12,864 101 $89,632 $354,501 $1,155
67 St. Francis 8,198 101 $98,390 $325,664 $1,032
68 Zimmerman 6,243 101 $79,720 $305,646 $1,367
69 Chisago City 5,576 101 $92,278 $414,242 $1,172
70 Brooklyn Park 84,951 102 $82,271 $327,075 $1,244
71 Coon Rapids 63,296 102 $85,445 $310,442 $1,393
72 Richfield 36,809 102 $80,712 $327,416 $1,299
73 Monticello 14,447 102 $80,290 $310,024 $1,263
74 Alexandria 14,400 102 $57,309 $257,770 $852
75 Maplewood 41,405 103 $86,769 $320,605 $1,291
76 Little Canada 10,624 103 $69,673 $351,425 $1,282
77 New Prague 8,155 103 $101,579 $326,107 $1,193
78 Wyoming 8,037 103 $99,821 $379,394 $1,176
79 Albertville 7,883 103 $107,316 $357,047 $1,166
80 Minneapolis 426,877 104 $76,332 $318,812 $1,267
81 Inver Grove Heights 35,673 104 $98,719 $349,482 $1,324
82 White Bear Lake 24,317 104 $79,699 $332,323 $1,460
83 Champlin 23,666 104 $113,570 $347,903 $1,478
84 Otsego 20,455 104 $122,420 $395,838 $1,595
85 Bloomington 89,244 105 $87,381 $347,523 $1,426
86 Blaine 70,047 105 $100,659 $354,091 $1,635
87 Oakdale 28,029 105 $86,003 $329,457 $1,240
88 Elk River 25,936 105 $95,597 $377,388 $1,244
89 Farmington 23,487 105 $114,737 $373,537 $1,214
90 Sartell 19,382 105 $74,177 $315,131 $1,125
91 Apple Valley 55,594 106 $97,588 $363,468 $1,607
92 Roseville 36,066 106 $87,702 $350,177 $1,250
93 New Brighton 23,141 106 $84,707 $362,922 $1,245
94 Forest Lake 20,553 106 $91,157 $387,584 $1,343
95 Stillwater 19,316 106 $107,986 $417,520 $1,449
96 Hopkins 18,752 106 $70,058 $317,062 $1,284
97 Buffalo 16,288 106 $81,868 $354,423 $1,037
98 Baxter 8,668 106 $67,064 $334,916 $1,095
99 Dayton 7,745 106 $138,654 $473,645 $1,181
100 Jordan 6,648 106 $111,290 $421,455 $1,203
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.