Rice Lake, MN vs St. Stephen, MN

The cost of living difference between Rice Lake, MN and St. Stephen, MN is dramatic. Rice Lake is 39.8% cheaper than St. Stephen, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Rice Lake has a cost index of 49 while St. Stephen sits at 82, 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 Rice Lake is $575/month compared to $1,025/month in St. Stephen — a 44% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rice Lake is more affordable at $21,500 median vs $237,600.

Median household income in Rice Lake is $41,625 compared to $94,875 in St. Stephen (-56.1%). While St. Stephen is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Rice Lake spend roughly 16.6% of their income on rent, more than the 13% in St. Stephen.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (40.4°F vs 42.9°F). St. Stephen receives more rainfall at 28.5" per year compared to 23.9" in Rice Lake.