Cook, MN vs Mentor, MN

Cook, MN and Mentor, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.2% difference in their overall index. Cook scores 59 while Mentor scores 58 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cook is $650/month compared to $771/month in Mentor — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cook has cheaper rent, Mentor actually has lower median home values ($56,100 vs $104,200).

Median household income in Cook is $41,750 compared to $42,143 in Mentor (-0.9%). Mentor offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Cook spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, less than the 22% in Mentor.