Ely, MN vs Thief River Falls, MN

Ely is moderately more affordable than Thief River Falls, with a 12.5% lower cost of living index. Ely scores 62 compared to 71 for Thief River Falls, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Thief River Falls 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 $884/month in Thief River Falls — a 29% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ely is more affordable at $150,800 median vs $169,300.

Median household income in Ely is $46,042 compared to $65,244 in Thief River Falls (-29.4%). While Thief River Falls 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, less than the 16.3% in Thief River Falls.