Cottage Grove, MN vs Monticello, MN

Monticello is moderately more affordable than Cottage Grove, with a 10% lower cost of living index. Cottage Grove scores 116 compared to 105 for Monticello, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Cottage Grove can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,644/month compared to $1,462/month in Monticello — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Monticello is more affordable at $298,400 median vs $359,600.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $81,563 in Monticello (+48.9%). While Cottage Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cottage Grove spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 21.5% in Monticello.