What is the cost of living in Albert Lea, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Albert Lea has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Albert Lea has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Albert Lea ranks as #4 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Albert Lea ranks as the #147 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Albert Lea, check out:
Albert Lea Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Albert Lea. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Albert Lea is 102.
The Groceries index in Albert Lea is 102.
The Health index in Albert Lea is 63.
The Housing index in Albert Lea is 95.
The Transportation index in Albert Lea is 108.
The Utilities index in Albert Lea is 99.
| Living Expense | Albert Lea | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 63 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Albert Lea Cost Of Living Compared To Minnesota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Minnesota, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Albert Lea Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Albert Lea, MN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Minnesota, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Albert Lea is $175,273.
The Median Rent in Albert Lea is $857.
The Median Income in Albert Lea is $64,603.
The Home Value To Income in Albert Lea is 2.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Albert Lea is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Albert Lea | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $175,273 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $857 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $64,603 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.7x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Albert Lea, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Albert Lea Services costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Albert Lea | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.32 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $10.28 | $18 |
| Haircut | $32.91 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Albert Lea Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Albert Lea | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.94 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.74 | $3.7 |
Detailed Albert Lea Health costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Albert Lea | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $87.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $153.18 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $105.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed Albert Lea Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Albert Lea | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.39 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.83 | $59.92 |
Detailed Albert Lea Utilities costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Albert Lea | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $209.45 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.72 | $192.25 |
Albert Lea SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Albert Lea
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Albert Lea. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mankato, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Albert Lea.
Owatonna, MN has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Albert Lea.
Austin, MN has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Albert Lea.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Albert Lea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, MN | 45,473 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Owatonna, MN | 26,498 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Austin, MN | 26,358 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Faribault, MN | 24,631 | 99 | 1.1x |
| North Mankato, MN | 14,211 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Waseca, MN | 9,164 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Clear Lake, IA | 7,607 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Kasson, MN | 7,050 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Stewartville, MN | 6,807 | 99 | 1.1x |
