Duluth, MN vs Rochester, MN: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Rochester, MN is 2.3% more expensive than Duluth, MN (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Duluth works out to about $76,700 in Rochester, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 10.5% more in Rochester. Goods are 0.1% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,590 a month in Rochester and $1,329 in Duluth, $3,132 a year more in Rochester (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $338,000 in Rochester and $264,000 in Duluth.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Rochester was 4.9% more expensive than Duluth.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 10.5% higher in Rochester than in Duluth
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Duluth, MN
- Rochester, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Duluth, MN | Rochester, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.8 | 90.8 |
| Goods | 95.3 | 95.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 71.1 | 78.6 |
| Utilities | 87.3 | 87.4 |
| Other services | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| Category | Duluth | Rochester | Rochester vs Duluth |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.8 | 90.8 | +2.3% |
| Goods | 95.3 | 95.4 | +0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 71.1 | 78.6 | +10.5% |
| Utilities | 87.3 | 87.4 | +0.2% |
| Other services | 92.2 | 92.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,329 | $1,590 | +19.6% |
| Typical home value | $264,000 | $338,000 | +28.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Duluth | $75,000 | $76,700 | +2.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Duluth and Rochester has narrowed since 2008: 6.0 points then, 2.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Duluth, MN
- Rochester, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Duluth, MN | Rochester, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 89.2 | 95.2 |
| 2009 | 92.9 | 95.6 |
| 2010 | 89.0 | 91.2 |
| 2011 | 90.9 | 93.6 |
| 2012 | 90.8 | 94.5 |
| 2013 | 88.5 | 93.9 |
| 2014 | 89.4 | 95.9 |
| 2015 | 90.1 | 93.6 |
| 2016 | 88.3 | 92.8 |
| 2017 | 86.5 | 92.8 |
| 2018 | 90.5 | 93.1 |
| 2019 | 90.2 | 94.7 |
| 2020 | 83.1 | 96.7 |
| 2021 | 89.3 | 91.9 |
| 2022 | 88.5 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 87.2 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 88.8 | 90.8 |
Goods
- Duluth, MN
- Rochester, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Duluth, MN | Rochester, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.5 | 93.0 |
| 2009 | 95.7 | 94.0 |
| 2010 | 95.9 | 95.5 |
| 2011 | 95.2 | 95.0 |
| 2012 | 96.5 | 96.0 |
| 2013 | 96.6 | 95.8 |
| 2014 | 98.2 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 98.0 | 97.6 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 95.2 | 95.0 |
| 2018 | 93.4 | 93.1 |
| 2019 | 96.6 | 96.5 |
| 2020 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2021 | 94.3 | 94.4 |
| 2022 | 94.4 | 94.6 |
| 2023 | 96.9 | 97.0 |
| 2024 | 95.3 | 95.4 |
Housing (rents)
- Duluth, MN
- Rochester, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Duluth, MN | Rochester, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 60.3 | 90.8 |
| 2009 | 76.3 | 91.9 |
| 2010 | 61.9 | 66.6 |
| 2011 | 73.1 | 84.2 |
| 2012 | 70.6 | 87.8 |
| 2013 | 59.5 | 82.1 |
| 2014 | 64.6 | 94.2 |
| 2015 | 70.7 | 87.7 |
| 2016 | 62.6 | 82.6 |
| 2017 | 59.4 | 87.1 |
| 2018 | 73.0 | 80.7 |
| 2019 | 69.2 | 87.2 |
| 2020 | 46.5 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 69.9 | 76.4 |
| 2022 | 74.8 | 91.2 |
| 2023 | 65.2 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 71.1 | 78.6 |
Utilities
- Duluth, MN
- Rochester, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Duluth, MN | Rochester, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.0 | 85.2 |
| 2009 | 88.7 | 83.8 |
| 2010 | 89.3 | 86.8 |
| 2011 | 91.2 | 86.9 |
| 2012 | 89.6 | 85.7 |
| 2013 | 90.9 | 88.3 |
| 2014 | 89.1 | 88.1 |
| 2015 | 86.7 | 86.1 |
| 2016 | 85.3 | 86.2 |
| 2017 | 88.6 | 88.6 |
| 2018 | 96.9 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 94.6 | 94.4 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 94.7 |
| 2021 | 95.7 | 95.2 |
| 2022 | 95.7 | 95.5 |
| 2023 | 88.8 | 88.9 |
| 2024 | 87.3 | 87.4 |
Other services
- Duluth, MN
- Rochester, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Duluth, MN | Rochester, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.4 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 99.0 | 98.4 |
| 2010 | 98.5 | 97.8 |
| 2011 | 96.3 | 95.7 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 96.1 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 96.1 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 94.0 | 93.3 |
| 2016 | 95.4 | 94.2 |
| 2017 | 94.4 | 93.5 |
| 2018 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 95.7 | 95.6 |
| 2021 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2022 | 90.6 | 90.5 |
| 2023 | 90.8 | 90.8 |
| 2024 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,590 in Rochester vs $1,329 in Duluth
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Duluth, MN
- Rochester, MN
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Duluth, MN | Rochester, MN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $1,051 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $1,064 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $856 | $1,064 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $861 | $1,060 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $850 | $1,101 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $856 | $1,090 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $885 | $1,104 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $878 | $1,079 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $873 | $1,138 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $874 | $1,143 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $881 | $1,125 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $886 | $1,103 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $894 | $1,107 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $901 | $1,160 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $893 | $1,178 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $908 | $1,176 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $909 | $1,178 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $924 | $1,205 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $908 | $1,212 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $943 | $1,199 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $931 | $1,225 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $950 | $1,221 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $989 | $1,214 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $983 | $1,202 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $996 | $1,255 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,015 | $1,289 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,037 | $1,293 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,064 | $1,297 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,073 | $1,349 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,090 | $1,402 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,124 | $1,397 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,140 | $1,396 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,166 | $1,426 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,169 | $1,460 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,176 | $1,429 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,191 | $1,431 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,198 | $1,469 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,222 | $1,493 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,227 | $1,476 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,228 | $1,496 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,254 | $1,524 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,285 | $1,555 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,280 | $1,560 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,275 | $1,518 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,297 | $1,556 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,335 | $1,590 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,329 | $1,590 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $338,000 in Rochester vs $264,000 in Duluth
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Duluth, MN
- Rochester, MN
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Duluth, MN | Rochester, MN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $136K | $173K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $139K | $175K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $139K | $179K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $140K | $182K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $141K | $185K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $142K | $189K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $142K | $193K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $144K | $197K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $145K | $200K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $147K | $206K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $150K | $209K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $152K | $213K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $153K | $217K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $155K | $219K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $157K | $223K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $157K | $225K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $161K | $228K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $163K | $231K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $165K | $233K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $168K | $236K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $171K | $239K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $173K | $242K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $177K | $246K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $185K | $256K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $191K | $264K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $199K | $275K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $206K | $282K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $208K | $284K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $215K | $297K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $224K | $309K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $223K | $306K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $222K | $303K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $224K | $302K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $230K | $308K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $233K | $310K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $233K | $310K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $234K | $312K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $240K | $316K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $241K | $316K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $242K | $320K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $244K | $322K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $247K | $322K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $251K | $326K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $256K | $331K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $260K | $335K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $263K | $336K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $264K | $338K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.