Clear Lake, MN vs Mapleton, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Mapleton is 22.1% cheaper than Clear Lake. With a cost index of 69 vs 84, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Mapleton to Clear Lake should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Clear Lake is $864/month compared to $772/month in Mapleton — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mapleton is more affordable at $176,400 median vs $255,800.

Median household income in Clear Lake is $105,000 compared to $82,031 in Mapleton (+28%). While Clear Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clear Lake spend roughly 9.9% of their income on rent, less than the 11.3% in Mapleton.