Ely, MN vs Mahnomen, MN

Ely, MN and Mahnomen, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.2% difference in their overall index. Ely scores 62 while Mahnomen scores 63 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Ely is $627/month compared to $755/month in Mahnomen — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ely has cheaper rent, Mahnomen actually has lower median home values ($83,000 vs $150,800).

Median household income in Ely is $46,042 compared to $43,854 in Mahnomen (+5%). Ely offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Ely spend roughly 16.3% of their income on rent, less than the 20.7% in Mahnomen.