Mankato, MN vs Duluth, MN: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Duluth, MN is 2.4% less expensive than Mankato, MN (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Mankato works out to about $73,200 in Duluth, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 10.9% less in Duluth. Goods are 0.1% lower and other services 0.0% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,329 a month in Duluth and $1,236 in Mankato, $1,116 a year more in Duluth (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $264,000 in Duluth and $306,000 in Mankato.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Duluth was 4.8% less expensive than Mankato.
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: 10.9% lower in Duluth than in Mankato
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Mankato, MN
- Duluth, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Duluth, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | 88.8 |
| Goods | 95.4 | 95.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 79.9 | 71.1 |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 87.3 |
| Other services | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| Category | Mankato | Duluth | Duluth vs Mankato |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | 88.8 | −2.4% |
| Goods | 95.4 | 95.3 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 79.9 | 71.1 | −10.9% |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 87.3 | +0.2% |
| Other services | 92.2 | 92.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,236 | $1,329 | +7.5% |
| Typical home value | $306,000 | $264,000 | −13.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Mankato | $75,000 | $73,200 | −2.4% |
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 Mankato and Duluth has narrowed since 2008: 4.2 points then, 2.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Mankato, MN
- Duluth, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Duluth, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.1 | 89.2 |
| 2009 | 88.7 | 92.9 |
| 2010 | 92.7 | 89.0 |
| 2011 | 86.3 | 90.9 |
| 2012 | 94.5 | 90.8 |
| 2013 | 94.1 | 88.5 |
| 2014 | 89.4 | 89.4 |
| 2015 | 92.0 | 90.1 |
| 2016 | 88.6 | 88.3 |
| 2017 | 89.3 | 86.5 |
| 2018 | 94.8 | 90.5 |
| 2019 | 94.8 | 90.2 |
| 2020 | 91.2 | 83.1 |
| 2021 | 88.3 | 89.3 |
| 2022 | 88.9 | 88.5 |
| 2023 | 87.6 | 87.2 |
| 2024 | 91.0 | 88.8 |
Goods
- Mankato, MN
- Duluth, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Duluth, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 76.9 | 96.5 |
| 2009 | 85.5 | 95.7 |
| 2010 | 93.6 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 94.3 | 95.2 |
| 2012 | 94.3 | 96.5 |
| 2013 | 92.8 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 94.6 | 98.2 |
| 2015 | 95.7 | 98.0 |
| 2016 | 94.1 | 97.1 |
| 2017 | 93.7 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 93.1 | 93.4 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 96.6 |
| 2020 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.3 |
| 2022 | 94.6 | 94.4 |
| 2023 | 97.0 | 96.9 |
| 2024 | 95.4 | 95.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Mankato, MN
- Duluth, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Duluth, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 80.2 | 60.3 |
| 2009 | 80.6 | 76.3 |
| 2010 | 88.5 | 61.9 |
| 2011 | 60.3 | 73.1 |
| 2012 | 100.4 | 70.6 |
| 2013 | 103.9 | 59.5 |
| 2014 | 68.8 | 64.6 |
| 2015 | 93.1 | 70.7 |
| 2016 | 78.9 | 62.6 |
| 2017 | 85.0 | 59.4 |
| 2018 | 92.0 | 73.0 |
| 2019 | 88.8 | 69.2 |
| 2020 | 69.3 | 46.5 |
| 2021 | 59.9 | 69.9 |
| 2022 | 72.1 | 74.8 |
| 2023 | 64.1 | 65.2 |
| 2024 | 79.9 | 71.1 |
Utilities
- Mankato, MN
- Duluth, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Duluth, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79.5 | 90.0 |
| 2009 | 78.1 | 88.7 |
| 2010 | 84.8 | 89.3 |
| 2011 | 78.8 | 91.2 |
| 2012 | 79.3 | 89.6 |
| 2013 | 81.8 | 90.9 |
| 2014 | 84.8 | 89.1 |
| 2015 | 84.3 | 86.7 |
| 2016 | 86.2 | 85.3 |
| 2017 | 85.8 | 88.6 |
| 2018 | 98.8 | 96.9 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 94.6 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 93.9 |
| 2021 | 98.3 | 95.7 |
| 2022 | 96.8 | 95.7 |
| 2023 | 90.0 | 88.8 |
| 2024 | 87.1 | 87.3 |
Other services
- Mankato, MN
- Duluth, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Duluth, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.9 | 99.4 |
| 2009 | 94.6 | 99.0 |
| 2010 | 94.2 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 91.4 | 96.3 |
| 2012 | 93.8 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 92.7 | 97.5 |
| 2014 | 93.5 | 96.1 |
| 2015 | 90.1 | 94.0 |
| 2016 | 89.0 | 95.4 |
| 2017 | 88.3 | 94.4 |
| 2018 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 95.6 | 95.7 |
| 2021 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2022 | 90.5 | 90.6 |
| 2023 | 90.8 | 90.8 |
| 2024 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,329 in Duluth vs $1,236 in Mankato
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Mankato, MN
- Duluth, 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
| Mankato, MN | Duluth, MN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $856 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $861 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $850 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $856 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $885 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $878 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $873 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $874 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $881 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $886 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $894 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $901 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $893 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $908 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $909 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $924 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $908 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $943 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $931 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $950 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $989 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $983 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $996 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | $1,015 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | $1,037 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | $1,064 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | – | $1,073 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | – | $1,090 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | – | $1,124 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,041 | $1,140 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,065 | $1,166 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,045 | $1,169 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,062 | $1,176 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,105 | $1,191 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,116 | $1,198 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,116 | $1,222 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,107 | $1,227 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,149 | $1,228 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,158 | $1,254 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,163 | $1,285 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,181 | $1,280 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,256 | $1,275 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,241 | $1,297 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,220 | $1,335 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,236 | $1,329 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $264,000 in Duluth vs $306,000 in Mankato
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Mankato, MN
- Duluth, 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
| Mankato, MN | Duluth, MN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $165K | $136K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $167K | $139K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $169K | $139K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $171K | $140K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $175K | $141K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $177K | $142K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $180K | $142K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $182K | $144K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $184K | $145K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $186K | $147K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $190K | $150K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $192K | $152K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $194K | $153K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $197K | $155K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $199K | $157K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $201K | $157K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $205K | $161K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $208K | $163K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $210K | $165K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $212K | $168K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $215K | $171K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $217K | $173K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $219K | $177K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $225K | $185K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $229K | $191K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $238K | $199K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $245K | $206K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $248K | $208K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $257K | $215K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $269K | $224K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $269K | $223K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $269K | $222K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $271K | $224K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $274K | $230K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $276K | $233K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $277K | $233K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $279K | $234K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $281K | $240K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $282K | $241K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $287K | $242K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $291K | $244K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $294K | $247K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $298K | $251K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $303K | $256K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $306K | $260K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $306K | $263K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $306K | $264K | $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.