| Index | Howard Lake | Minnesota | National |
| Cost of living | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 90 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 97 | 99 | 100 |

| 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 | $112,729 | $9,394 | $2,630 | $3,382 |
| Renters | $63,206 | $5,267 | $1,475 | $1,896 |
| 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. |
| Kingston, MN | 227 | 91 | 9.1% |
| Silver Lake, MN | 938 | 90 | 10.2% |
| Lester Prairie, MN | 1,776 | 92 | 7.8% |
| Winsted, MN | 2,084 | 92 | 7.7% |
| Cokato, MN | 2,804 | 95 | 5.2% |
| Howard Lake, MN | 1,955 | 97 | 3.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Montverde, FL | 1,955 | 126 | 26.4% |
| Temelec, CA | 1,954 | 165 | 65.1% |
| Livingston, LA | 1,954 | 96 | 3.8% |
| Morton, TX | 1,954 | 79 | 20.8% |
| Gate City, VA | 1,956 | 91 | 9.3% |
| Howard Lake, MN | 1,955 | 97 | 3.1% |