Lake Benton, MN vs Rice, MN

The cost of living difference between Lake Benton, MN and Rice, MN is dramatic. Lake Benton is 40.5% cheaper than Rice, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Lake Benton has a cost index of 58 while Rice sits at 97, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Benton is $550/month compared to $1,529/month in Rice — a 64% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lake Benton is more affordable at $91,900 median vs $237,600.

Median household income in Lake Benton is $52,000 compared to $103,482 in Rice (-49.7%). While Rice is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lake Benton spend roughly 12.7% of their income on rent, less than the 17.7% in Rice.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.1°F vs 42.9°F). Lake Benton receives more rainfall at 29.6" per year compared to 28.5" in Rice.