| Index | Stillwater | Minnesota | National |
| Cost of living | 115 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 151 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 104 | 99 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Stillwater 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 Stillwater stands at 115, marking it 15% higher than the national average.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Stillwater 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 51.4% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 6 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Stillwater. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 33% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 67% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Stillwater an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Stillwater, the median home price is 68.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 11.4% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Stillwater come in at $137,322, which is 68.8% higher than the national average.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Stillwater, is 51.4% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Stillwater, the utilities index registers at 5.8% higher than the national average.
The Stillwater cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| 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 | $162,748 | $13,562 | $3,797 | $4,883 |
| Renters | $77,111 | $6,426 | $1,799 | $2,314 |
| 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. |
| Houlton, WI | 109 | 100 | 0.0% |
| Landfall, MN | 819 | 72 | 27.9% |
| South End, MN | 66 | 78 | 22.1% |
| Star Prairie, WI | 655 | 96 | 3.8% |
| Somerset, WI | 2,931 | 101 | 0.5% |
| Stillwater, MN | 20,207 | 115 | 15.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Rivière-du-Loup, QC | 20,207 | n/a | |
| West Mifflin, PA | 20,208 | 89 | 11.4% |
| Seymour, IN | 20,201 | 89 | 10.6% |
| North Bay Shore, NY | 20,198 | 130 | 29.6% |
| Upper St. Clair, PA | 20,221 | 119 | 18.9% |
| Stillwater, MN | 20,207 | 115 | 15.5% |
Here are the best places to live in Minnesota
These are the largest cities in Minnesota
Most Dangerous Cities In The US
These are the 10 cheapest cities in Minnesota