Albany, MN vs Grand Meadow, MN

Grand Meadow is moderately more affordable than Albany, with a 7.6% lower cost of living index. Albany scores 67 compared to 63 for Grand Meadow, 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 $498/month in Grand Meadow — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Grand Meadow is more affordable at $169,100 median vs $226,000.

Median household income in Albany is $75,417 compared to $68,750 in Grand Meadow (+9.7%). While Albany is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Albany spend roughly 9.2% of their income on rent, more than the 8.7% in Grand Meadow.