Cottonwood, MN vs Eagle Lake, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Cottonwood is 18.8% cheaper than Eagle Lake. With a cost index of 76 vs 94, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Cottonwood to Eagle Lake should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cottonwood is $914/month compared to $1,405/month in Eagle Lake — a 35% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cottonwood is more affordable at $180,200 median vs $249,600.

Median household income in Cottonwood is $90,750 compared to $97,161 in Eagle Lake (-6.6%). Eagle Lake does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Cottonwood spend roughly 12.1% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Eagle Lake.