Lester Prairie, MN vs Redwood Falls, MN

Lester Prairie, MN and Redwood Falls, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.5% difference in their overall index. Lester Prairie scores 74 while Redwood Falls scores 72 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 Lester Prairie is $735/month compared to $824/month in Redwood Falls — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lester Prairie has cheaper rent, Redwood Falls actually has lower median home values ($162,000 vs $217,000).

Median household income in Lester Prairie is $87,188 compared to $61,947 in Redwood Falls (+40.7%). While Lester 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 Lester Prairie spend roughly 10.1% of their income on rent, less than the 16% in Redwood Falls.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.7°F vs 45.4°F). Lester Prairie receives more rainfall at 30.6" per year compared to 28" in Redwood Falls.