Cottage Grove, MN vs New Ulm, MN

The cost of living difference between Cottage Grove, MN and New Ulm, MN is dramatic. New Ulm is 52.4% cheaper than Cottage Grove, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Cottage Grove has a cost index of 116 while New Ulm sits at 76, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,644/month compared to $974/month in New Ulm — a 69% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Ulm is more affordable at $192,700 median vs $359,600.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $63,984 in New Ulm (+89.8%). 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 18.3% in New Ulm.