What is the cost of living in Brainerd, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Brainerd has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Brainerd has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Brainerd ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Brainerd ranks as the #138 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Brainerd, check out:
Brainerd Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Brainerd. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Brainerd is 101.
The Groceries index in Brainerd is 97.
The Health index in Brainerd is 71.
The Housing index in Brainerd is 98.
The Transportation index in Brainerd is 104.
The Utilities index in Brainerd is 99.
| Living Expense | Brainerd | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 71 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Brainerd 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 Brainerd Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Brainerd, 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 Brainerd is $307,939.
The Median Rent in Brainerd is $827.
The Median Income in Brainerd is $56,111.
The Home Value To Income in Brainerd is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Brainerd is 0.18x.
Brainerd, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Brainerd Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Brainerd Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Brainerd Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Brainerd Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
Brainerd SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Brainerd
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Brainerd. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Little Falls, MN has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Brainerd.
Baxter, MN has a cost of living index of 104, 1.1x Brainerd.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Brainerd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Falls, MN | 9,121 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Baxter, MN | 8,966 | 104 | 1.1x |
