Bellingham, MN vs New Auburn, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Bellingham is 27% cheaper than New Auburn. With a cost index of 53 vs 72, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Bellingham to New Auburn should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bellingham is $494/month compared to $900/month in New Auburn — a 45% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bellingham is more affordable at $52,700 median vs $140,900.

Median household income in Bellingham is $52,083 compared to $68,977 in New Auburn (-24.5%). The higher salaries in New Auburn partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Bellingham spend roughly 11.4% of their income on rent, less than the 15.7% in New Auburn.