Albany, MN vs Bird Island, MN

Bird Island is moderately more affordable than Albany, with a 9.1% lower cost of living index. Albany scores 67 compared to 62 for Bird Island, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Albany can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Albany is $579/month compared to $617/month in Bird Island — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Albany has cheaper rent, Bird Island actually has lower median home values ($114,600 vs $226,000).

Median household income in Albany is $75,417 compared to $71,190 in Bird Island (+5.9%). The higher salaries in Albany partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Albany spend roughly 9.2% of their income on rent, less than the 10.4% in Bird Island.