Atwater, MN vs St. Augusta, MN

The cost of living difference between Atwater, MN and St. Augusta, MN is dramatic. Atwater is 31.8% cheaper than St. Augusta, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Atwater has a cost index of 68 while St. Augusta sits at 99, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Atwater is $736/month compared to $1,373/month in St. Augusta — a 46% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Atwater is more affordable at $144,300 median vs $323,400.

Median household income in Atwater is $66,071 compared to $116,384 in St. Augusta (-43.2%). While St. Augusta is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Atwater spend roughly 13.4% of their income on rent, less than the 14.2% in St. Augusta.