What is the cost of living in Austin, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Austin has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Austin has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Austin ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Austin ranks as the #138 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Austin, check out:
Austin Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Austin. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Austin is 101.
The Groceries index in Austin is 101.
The Health index in Austin is 71.
The Housing index in Austin is 102.
The Transportation index in Austin is 109.
The Utilities index in Austin is 96.
| Living Expense | Austin | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 71 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Austin 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 Austin Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Austin, 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 Austin is $185,656.
The Median Rent in Austin is $953.
The Median Income in Austin is $68,057.
The Home Value To Income in Austin is 2.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Austin is 0.17x.
Austin, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Austin Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Austin Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Austin Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Austin Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
Austin SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Austin
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Austin. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Rochester, MN has a cost of living index of 108, 1.2x Austin.
Owatonna, MN has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Austin.
Faribault, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Austin.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Austin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | 122,330 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Owatonna, MN | 26,498 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Faribault, MN | 24,631 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Albert Lea, MN | 18,330 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Waseca, MN | 9,164 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Clear Lake, IA | 7,607 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Kasson, MN | 7,050 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Stewartville, MN | 6,807 | 99 | 1.1x |
