Cottage Grove, MN vs South St. Paul, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. South St. Paul is 25.1% cheaper than Cottage Grove. With a cost index of 93 vs 116, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from South St. Paul to Cottage Grove should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,644/month compared to $1,128/month in South St. Paul — a 46% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: South St. Paul is more affordable at $266,800 median vs $359,600.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $84,472 in South St. Paul (+43.8%). 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, more than the 16% in South St. Paul.