| Index | Blaine | Minnesota | National |
| Cost of living | 112 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 141 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 99 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Blaine? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Blaine stands at 112, making it 12% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Housing costs significantly influence the Blaine cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 40.9%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Is Blaine affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Blaine, for instance, where the median home price falls 35.9% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 52.6% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Blaine flaunting a median household income of $131,788, 62% higher than the national norm.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Blaine starts at 6.875% and the income tax rates start at 5.35%.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
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.
The Blaine cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| 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 | $138,806 | $11,567 | $3,239 | $4,165 |
| Renters | $86,205 | $7,184 | $2,011 | $2,586 |
| 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. |
| Hilltop, MN | 1,045 | 80 | 20.0% |
| St. Anthony city (Stearns County), MN | 108 | 84 | 16.4% |
| Stacy, MN | 2,036 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Brooklyn Center, MN | 31,682 | 102 | 1.8% |
| Columbia Heights, MN | 21,019 | 102 | 1.9% |
| Blaine, MN | 66,645 | 112 | 11.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| East Orange, NJ | 66,655 | 115 | 15.1% |
| San Clemente, CA | 66,681 | 208 | 107.9% |
| Wellington, FL | 66,604 | 139 | 38.6% |
| Florence-Graham, CA | 66,603 | 138 | 38.2% |
| Jupiter, FL | 66,688 | 133 | 32.6% |
| Blaine, MN | 66,645 | 112 | 11.6% |
Here are the best places to live in Minnesota
See the best places to live in Blaine
Most Dangerous Cities In The US
Safest States In The US