Owatonna, MN vs Thief River Falls, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Thief River Falls is 18% cheaper than Owatonna. With a cost index of 71 vs 83, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Thief River Falls to Owatonna should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Owatonna is $1,010/month compared to $884/month in Thief River Falls — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Thief River Falls is more affordable at $169,300 median vs $234,600.

Median household income in Owatonna is $81,276 compared to $65,244 in Thief River Falls (+24.6%). While Owatonna is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Owatonna spend roughly 14.9% of their income on rent, less than the 16.3% in Thief River Falls.

Climate-wise, Owatonna is notably warmer with an average of 44.8°F compared to 37.7°F in Thief River Falls. Owatonna receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 24.3" in Thief River Falls.