Cottage Grove, MN vs West St. Paul, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. West St. Paul is 20.9% cheaper than Cottage Grove. With a cost index of 96 vs 116, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from West 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 $1,195/month in West St. Paul — a 38% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: West St. Paul is more affordable at $281,800 median vs $359,600.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $70,738 in West St. Paul (+71.7%). 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 20.3% in West St. Paul.