| Index | Apple Valley | Minnesota | National |
| Cost of living | 113 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 145 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 99 | 100 |
The cost of living in Apple Valley affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Apple Valley is 113, which is 13% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Apple Valley cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 45.1% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Apple Valley affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Apple Valley, the median home price is 45.4% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 44.3% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Apple Valley boasting a median household income of $135,624, 66.8% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety 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 farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Apple Valley, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.875%, and income tax rates start at 5.35%.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Apple Valley, the groceries index is 2.2% lower than the national average.
The cost of living data for Apple Valley shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $154,349 | $12,862 | $3,601 | $4,631 |
| Renters | $80,413 | $6,701 | $1,876 | $2,413 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | 7.875% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Minnesota | 5.35% | 9.85% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Landfall, MN | 819 | 72 | 27.9% |
| South End, MN | 66 | 78 | 22.1% |
| New Trier, MN | 87 | 98 | 1.9% |
| St. Paul Park, MN | 5,562 | 101 | 1.2% |
| Coates, MN | 145 | 101 | 1.5% |
| Apple Valley, MN | 55,842 | 113 | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Normal, IL | 55,834 | 97 | 3.1% |
| Aloha, OR | 55,865 | 126 | 26.4% |
| Brookhaven, GA | 55,874 | 144 | 43.6% |
| Elyria, OH | 55,802 | 86 | 14.1% |
| Westchester, FL | 55,883 | 125 | 25.2% |
| Apple Valley, MN | 55,842 | 113 | 13.3% |
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