Albert Lea, MN vs Moorhead, MN

Albert Lea is moderately more affordable than Moorhead, with a 13% lower cost of living index. Albert Lea scores 72 compared to 82 for Moorhead, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Moorhead can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Albert Lea is $845/month compared to $1,017/month in Moorhead — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Albert Lea is more affordable at $150,400 median vs $246,300.

Median household income in Albert Lea is $62,522 compared to $69,371 in Moorhead (-9.9%). The higher salaries in Moorhead partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Albert Lea spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 17.6% in Moorhead.