Brainerd, MN Cost Of Living

Brainerd cost of living index

In the event that the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used. Each cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. If the amount is below 100, it is lower than the national average. If the amount is above 100, it is higher than the national average.
Index	Brainerd	Minnesota	National
Cost of living index	91	102	100
Index	Brainerd	Minnesota	National
Goods & Services index	103	105	100
Groceries index	115	106	100
Health care index	124	113	100
Housing index	62	100	100
Transportation index	101	103	100
Utilities index	85	89	100

The above illustration supplies generalized information for the Brainerd, MN cost of living index. Compared to other cities in Minnesota and cities across the country, the cost of living index in Brainerd, MN is 91, which is 11% lower than the Minnesota average and 9% lower than that for the entire country. The index is comprised of the following criteria: cost of retail goods and services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), cost of public/private transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). Everyday goods and services, along with housing account for 63 percent of the total cost of living index. Goods and services that are a necessity regardless of location provide an accurate general sense of the cost of living in one city versus another. As seen above, the cost of retail goods and services in Brainerd, MN are 2% lower than the average for Minnesota and 3% higher than the rest of the country.

Did you know?

The cost of living in Brainerd is 11% lower than the Minnesota average.
The cost of living in Brainerd is 9% lower than the national average.
The cost of housing in Brainerd is 38% lower than the national average.
Minnesota general sales tax is 35% higher than the national average.
Minnesota state income tax is 141% higher than the national average.

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Price difference in compared to

Cost of living index
Goods & Services index
Groceries index
Health care index
Housing index
Transportation index
Utilities index

Use the salary calculator to compare your current salary in Brainerd, MN to any other city. The salary calculator will tell you how much you would need to earn in any given city to maintain the same standard of living based on the cost of living in each city. For example, if the cost of living in the city you are looking to relocate to is higher than the cost of living in Brainerd, MN, then you would need to earn more income in order to maintain the same standard of living. To use the Brainerd, MN salary calculator, simply enter in the name of the new city, then adjust the slider to your current income. The salary calculator will do the rest and let you know if you need to earn more or less in the new city. You will also see a complete breakdown of the cost of living.

Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

Median Income	Per Year	Per Month	Max Budget (28% DTI)	Max Budget (36% DTI)
Owners	$46,988	$3,916	$1,096	$1,410
Renters	$25,058	$2,088	$585	$752

If you want to find a good determining factor for the cost of living and the general affordability of housing in Brainerd, MN, all you must look at is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Brainerd, MN, the median monthly income is $46,988 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,096 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $25,058, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $585 on monthly rental expenses.

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%

When assessing the complete cost of living in Brainerd, MN, the Minnesota income tax and the Minnesota sales tax percentages should unquestionably be taken into consideration. Sales taxes aren't just levies imposed onto sold goods, but they also include taxes that are charged when services are provided for a fee. The rates are different from state to state and can run has high as 7 percent. Some states have no sales tax at all. The Minnesota maximum surtax is 7.875%, and the Minnesota sales tax is 6.875%. By contrast, income tax is an unfortunate obligation that is charged by the government against earnings. Just like sales taxes, the rates for income taxes differ from state to state. They also decrease or increase according to the individual's tax bracket. Tax rates can run as high as 9 percent, with a minimum of zero. Income tax rates range from 5.35% to 9.85% in Minnesota.

Goods & Services

Item	Brainerd	National avg.	Difference
Haircut	$17.00	$16.09	5.7%
Beauty Salon	$32.17	$37.33	13.8%
Toothpaste	$2.93	$2.45	19.9%
Shampoo	$1.53	$1.00	53.3%
Movie	$9.25	$10.28	10.0%
Bowling	$4.07	$4.93	17.4%

Groceries

Item	Brainerd	National avg.	Difference
Ground Beef	$3.79	$3.80	0.3%
Fried Chicken	$2.22	$1.40	58.9%
Milk	$2.29	$2.01	14.1%
Potatoes	$3.02	$3.01	0.2%
Pizza	$9.99	$9.89	1.1%
Beer	$9.79	$8.90	10.0%

Health Care

Item	Brainerd	National avg.	Difference
Optometrist	$132.83	$102.16	30.0%
Doctor	$184.50	$108.36	70.3%
Dentist	$89.10	$92.53	3.7%
Ibuprofen	$9.63	$9.28	3.8%
Lipitor	$480.16	$425.82	12.8%

Housing

Item	Brainerd	National avg.	Difference
Home Price	$106,400.00	$184,700.00	42.4%
Avg. Mortgage Payment	$823.98	$1,202.44	31.5%
Apartment Rent	$683.00	$949.00	28.0%

Transportation

Item	Brainerd	National avg.	Difference
Gasoline	$2.30	$2.24	2.5%
Tire Balancing	$45.09	$46.29	2.6%

Utilities

Item	Brainerd	National avg.	Difference
All Electricity	$162.68	$165.96	2.0%
Phone	$19.99	$28.68	30.3%

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, State	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Merrifield, MN	117	103	3%
Deerwood, MN	634	87	-13%
Ironton, MN	713	88	-12%
Trommald, MN	100	90	-10%
Crosby, MN	2,537	91	-9%
Brainerd, MN	13,440	91	-9%

Cities with similar population

City, State	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Hot Springs Village, AR	13,443	98	-2%
Stony Brook, NY	13,437	154	54%
Druid Hills, GA	13,444	136	36%
Hidalgo, TX	13,449	73	-27%
North Mankato, MN	13,451	98	-2%
Brainerd, MN	13,440	91	-9%

Source: The Brainerd, MN cost of living data displayed above is derived from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) for 2017.

Brainerd, MN Cost of Living