Brownsville, MN vs Silver Bay, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Brownsville is 21.6% cheaper than Silver Bay. With a cost index of 61 vs 78, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Brownsville to Silver Bay should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Brownsville is $525/month compared to $1,044/month in Silver Bay — a 50% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Brownsville has cheaper rent, Silver Bay actually has lower median home values ($150,700 vs $161,600).

Median household income in Brownsville is $63,977 compared to $70,870 in Silver Bay (-9.7%). Silver Bay does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Brownsville spend roughly 9.8% of their income on rent, less than the 17.7% in Silver Bay.