F
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
68%
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 Golden Valley Minnesota National
Cost of living11899100
Goods & Services95100100
Groceries9798100
Health care101109100
Housing168100100
Transportation9797100
Utilities9593100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Golden Valley, MN

The cost of living in Golden 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 Golden Valley is 118, which is 18% 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 very significant part of the Golden Valley 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 67.9% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Golden Valley Affordable?

Is Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley is 78.3% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 43.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Golden Valley has a median household income of $97,783, which is 76.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Golden Valley?

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Golden Valley, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6.875%, and the income tax rates commence at 5.35%.

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 Golden Valley, healthcare costs are 0.6% higher than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Golden Valley, the utilities index registers 5.2% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley is 19% higher than the Minnesota average
  • The cost of living in Golden Valley is 18% higher than the national average
  • Golden Valley housing is 68% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota general sales tax is 35% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota state income tax is 106% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Golden Valley

See all the best places to live around Golden Valley

Compare Golden Valley, MN Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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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

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$121,317$10,110$2,831$3,640
      Renters$47,543$3,962$1,109$1,426
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Golden Valley is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Golden Valley has a median income of about $121,317 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,831 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $47,543. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,109 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Golden Valley National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.86$24.266.6%
      Beauty Salon $37.00$45.5618.8%
      Toothpaste $3.62$3.702.2%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2816.9%
      Movie $11.32$12.136.7%
      Bowling $25.68$18.0042.6%

      Groceries

      Item Golden Valley National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.75$5.841.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.2%
      Milk $4.60$4.671.5%
      Potatoes $4.76$4.933.5%
      Pizza $13.00$12.097.6%
      Beer $9.44$10.419.3%

      Health Care

      Item Golden Valley National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.72$125.6810.3%
      Doctor $164.15$135.7820.9%
      Dentist $95.01$113.2916.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.71$10.650.6%
      Lipitor $499.35$468.606.6%

      Housing

      Item Golden Valley National avg. Difference
      Home Price $329,400.00$184,700.0078.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,983.77$2,346.6915.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,362.00$949.0043.5%

      Transportation

      Item Golden Valley National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.32$3.464.0%
      Tire Balancing $59.91$59.920.0%

      Utilities

      Item Golden Valley National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $180.11$193.997.2%
      Phone $187.59$192.252.4%
      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.
      South End, MN657525.2%
      Hilltop, MN1,0077722.8%
      St. Anthony city (Stearns County), MN1068019.7%
      Columbia Heights, MN20,247991.3%
      Brooklyn Center, MN30,755990.7%
      Golden Valley, MN21,61111817.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Prichard, AL21,6188218.0%
      Albertville, AL21,6208910.5%
      Lealman, FL21,621909.6%
      Coralville, IA21,6301054.9%
      Sedalia, MO21,6348416.2%
      Golden Valley, MN21,61111817.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.