Cottage Grove, MN vs Worthington, MN

The cost of living difference between Cottage Grove, MN and Worthington, MN is dramatic. Worthington is 52.9% 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 Worthington 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 $892/month in Worthington — a 84% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Worthington is more affordable at $184,200 median vs $359,600.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $61,840 in Worthington (+96.4%). 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 17.3% in Worthington.