Ely, MN vs Parkers Prairie, MN

Ely is moderately more affordable than Parkers Prairie, with a 9.6% lower cost of living index. Ely scores 62 compared to 68 for Parkers Prairie, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Parkers Prairie can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ely is $627/month compared to $736/month in Parkers Prairie — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ely is more affordable at $150,800 median vs $152,500.

Median household income in Ely is $46,042 compared to $58,750 in Parkers Prairie (-21.6%). While Parkers Prairie is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ely spend roughly 16.3% of their income on rent, more than the 15% in Parkers Prairie.