Cottage Grove, WI vs Howard, WI

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Howard is 27.8% cheaper than Cottage Grove. With a cost index of 88 vs 112, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Howard to Cottage Grove should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,500/month compared to $1,053/month in Howard — a 43% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Howard is more affordable at $286,200 median vs $401,900.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $132,717 compared to $84,896 in Howard (+56.3%). 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 13.6% of their income on rent, less than the 14.9% in Howard.