Brainerd, MN vs La Crescent, MN

Brainerd is moderately more affordable than La Crescent, with a 11.8% lower cost of living index. Brainerd scores 74 compared to 84 for La Crescent, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of La Crescent can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Brainerd is $848/month compared to $1,059/month in La Crescent — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Brainerd is more affordable at $178,600 median vs $244,500.

Median household income in Brainerd is $53,705 compared to $82,109 in La Crescent (-34.6%). While La Crescent is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Brainerd spend roughly 18.9% of their income on rent, more than the 15.5% in La Crescent.