D-
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
46%
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 Hugo Minnesota National
Cost of living11199100
Goods & Services96100100
Groceries9998100
Health care101109100
Housing146100100
Transportation9897100
Utilities9493100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Hugo, MN

Knowing the cost of living in Hugo allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Hugo stands at 111, marking it 11% higher than the national average.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Hugo, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 45.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Hugo Affordable?

Wondering if Hugo is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Hugo, for example, the median home price is 42% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 54.3% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Hugo boasting a median household income of $92,032, which is 66.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hugo?

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Hugo, the utilities index stands at 6.4% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Hugo, the transportation index stands at 2.1% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Hugo, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6.875%, and income tax rates kick off at 5.35%.

Where is the Data From?

The Hugo cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Hugo is 12% higher than the Minnesota average
  • The cost of living in Hugo is 11% higher than the national average
  • Hugo housing is 46% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota general sales tax is 35% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota state income tax is 137% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Hugo

See all the best places to live around Hugo

Compare Hugo, MN Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      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$95,616$7,968$2,231$2,869
      Renters$62,229$5,186$1,452$1,867
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Hugo, MN, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Hugo, homeowners have a median income of $95,616. Using that number, a maximum of $2,231 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $62,229, which means there is a maximum of $1,452 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Hugo National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.67$24.2618.2%
      Beauty Salon $34.55$45.5624.2%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.30$1.281.5%
      Movie $13.47$12.1311.0%
      Bowling $21.50$18.0019.4%

      Groceries

      Item Hugo National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.49$5.845.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.35$1.5714.2%
      Milk $4.63$4.670.8%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.930.8%
      Pizza $12.49$12.093.3%
      Beer $9.36$10.4110.1%

      Health Care

      Item Hugo National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $145.44$125.6815.7%
      Doctor $229.08$135.7868.7%
      Dentist $108.67$113.294.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.36$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $599.08$468.6027.8%

      Housing

      Item Hugo National avg. Difference
      Home Price $262,300.00$184,700.0042.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,941.44$2,346.6917.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,464.00$949.0054.3%

      Transportation

      Item Hugo National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.38$3.462.5%
      Tire Balancing $61.74$59.923.0%

      Utilities

      Item Hugo National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $175.38$193.999.6%
      Phone $187.39$192.252.5%
      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.
      Houlton, WI105973.3%
      Landfall, MN7967030.3%
      Hilltop, MN1,0077722.8%
      St. Anthony city (Stearns County), MN1068019.7%
      Stacy, MN1,960937.3%
      Hugo, MN15,00811111.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      West Haven, UT15,00312020.5%
      Highland Springs, VA15,000982.0%
      Vandalia, OH15,021936.9%
      North Fair Oaks, CA14,992215114.8%
      Tonawanda city, NY14,9918416.5%
      Hugo, MN15,00811111.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.