Bemidji, MN vs Mankato, MN

Bemidji is moderately more affordable than Mankato, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Bemidji scores 80 compared to 84 for Mankato, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mankato can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bemidji is $1,004/month compared to $1,089/month in Mankato — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bemidji is more affordable at $189,500 median vs $250,600.

Median household income in Bemidji is $53,850 compared to $64,826 in Mankato (-16.9%). While Mankato is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bemidji spend roughly 22.4% of their income on rent, more than the 20.2% in Mankato.