Lake Benton, MN vs Winsted, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Lake Benton is 25.8% cheaper than Winsted. With a cost index of 58 vs 78, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Lake Benton to Winsted should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Benton is $550/month compared to $797/month in Winsted — a 31% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lake Benton is more affordable at $91,900 median vs $210,200.

Median household income in Lake Benton is $52,000 compared to $70,208 in Winsted (-25.9%). While Winsted 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 13.6% in Winsted.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.1°F vs 46.7°F). Winsted receives more rainfall at 30.6" per year compared to 29.6" in Lake Benton.