D
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
49%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Stillwater Minnesota National
Cost of living11299100
Goods & Services96100100
Groceries9998100
Health care101109100
Housing149100100
Transportation9897100
Utilities9493100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Stillwater, MN

Knowing the cost of living in Stillwater allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Stillwater stands at 112, marking it 12% higher than the national average.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Stillwater cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 48.9% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Stillwater?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 6 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Stillwater. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 33% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 67% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Stillwater Affordable?

Is Stillwater an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Stillwater is 63.8% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 14.2% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Stillwater has a median household income of $91,947, which is 66.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Stillwater?

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Stillwater, healthcare costs are 0.7% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Stillwater, the groceries index is 1.2% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Stillwater displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Stillwater is 13% higher than the Minnesota average
  • The cost of living in Stillwater is 12% higher than the national average
  • Stillwater housing is 49% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota general sales tax is 35% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota state income tax is 137% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Stillwater

See all the best places to live around Stillwater

Compare Stillwater, MN Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$108,408$9,034$2,529$3,253
      Renters$51,222$4,269$1,195$1,537
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Stillwater, MN, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Stillwater have a median income of $108,408. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,529 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $51,222, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,195.

      Minnesota Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Minnesota 6.875% 7.875%

      Minnesota Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Minnesota 5.35% 9.85%

      Goods & Services

      Item Stillwater National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.67$24.2618.2%
      Beauty Salon $34.55$45.5624.2%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.30$1.281.5%
      Movie $13.47$12.1311.0%
      Bowling $21.50$18.0019.4%

      Groceries

      Item Stillwater National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.49$5.845.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.35$1.5714.2%
      Milk $4.63$4.670.8%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.930.8%
      Pizza $12.49$12.093.3%
      Beer $9.36$10.4110.1%

      Health Care

      Item Stillwater National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $145.44$125.6815.7%
      Doctor $229.08$135.7868.7%
      Dentist $108.67$113.294.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.36$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $599.08$468.6027.8%

      Housing

      Item Stillwater National avg. Difference
      Home Price $302,500.00$184,700.0063.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,941.44$2,346.6917.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,084.00$949.0014.2%

      Transportation

      Item Stillwater National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.38$3.462.5%
      Tire Balancing $61.74$59.923.0%

      Utilities

      Item Stillwater National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $175.38$193.999.6%
      Phone $187.39$192.252.5%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Houlton, WI105973.3%
      Landfall, MN7967030.3%
      South End, MN657525.2%
      Star Prairie, WI641946.0%
      Somerset, WI2,842981.9%
      Stillwater, MN19,47111212.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Boone, NC19,46611110.7%
      Franconia, VA19,47814443.6%
      Orinda, CA19,461279178.8%
      Salmon Arm, BC19,494n/a 
      Cumberland, MD19,4958515.2%
      Stillwater, MN19,47111212.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.