Barnesville, MN vs Shorewood, MN

The cost of living difference between Barnesville, MN and Shorewood, MN is dramatic. Barnesville is 51.9% cheaper than Shorewood, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Barnesville has a cost index of 75 while Shorewood sits at 156, 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 Barnesville is $862/month compared to $2,099/month in Shorewood — a 59% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Barnesville is more affordable at $218,300 median vs $684,500.

Median household income in Barnesville is $83,333 compared to $172,325 in Shorewood (-51.6%). The higher salaries in Shorewood partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Barnesville spend roughly 12.4% of their income on rent, less than the 14.6% in Shorewood.