What is the cost of living in Baxter, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Baxter has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Baxter has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Baxter ranks as #62 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Baxter ranks as the #89 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Baxter, check out:
Baxter Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Baxter. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Baxter is 101.
The Groceries index in Baxter is 100.
The Health index in Baxter is 114.
The Housing index in Baxter is 102.
The Transportation index in Baxter is 104.
The Utilities index in Baxter is 102.
| Living Expense | Baxter | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 114 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 101 | 100 |
Baxter 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 Baxter Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Baxter, 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 Baxter is $364,189.
The Median Rent in Baxter is $1,154.
The Median Income in Baxter is $70,688.
The Home Value To Income in Baxter is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Baxter is 0.2x.
Baxter, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Baxter Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Baxter Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Baxter Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Baxter Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
Baxter SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Baxter
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Baxter. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sartell, MN has a cost of living index of 105, 1.0x Baxter.
Brainerd, MN has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Baxter.
Little Falls, MN has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x Baxter.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Baxter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sartell, MN | 19,758 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Brainerd, MN | 14,468 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Little Falls, MN | 9,121 | 95 | 0.9x |








