Cottage Grove, MN vs St. Michael, MN

Cottage Grove is moderately more affordable than St. Michael, with a 9.7% lower cost of living index. Cottage Grove scores 116 compared to 128 for St. Michael, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Michael 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 $2,038/month in St. Michael — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cottage Grove is more affordable at $359,600 median vs $365,800.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $130,814 in St. Michael (-7.2%). The higher salaries in St. Michael partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Cottage Grove spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 18.7% in St. Michael.