| Index | Melrose | Minnesota | National |
| Cost of living | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 82 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 99 | 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 | $91,340 | $7,612 | $2,131 | $2,740 |
| Renters | $39,613 | $3,301 | $924 | $1,189 |
| 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. |
| Grey Eagle, MN | 307 | 87 | 13.5% |
| West Union, MN | 83 | 88 | 12.3% |
| Brooten, MN | 612 | 88 | 12.2% |
| Burtrum, MN | 87 | 90 | 10.2% |
| Greenwald, MN | 231 | 90 | 9.8% |
| Melrose, MN | 3,794 | 95 | 5.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Farmerville, LA | 3,794 | 87 | 13.1% |
| South Toms River, NJ | 3,794 | 119 | 18.7% |
| Trappe, PA | 3,795 | 115 | 14.6% |
| Fairview, NJ | 3,792 | 151 | 51.3% |
| Nowata, OK | 3,792 | 82 | 18.5% |
| Melrose, MN | 3,794 | 95 | 5.1% |