What is the cost of living in Detroit Lakes, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Detroit Lakes has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Detroit Lakes has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Detroit Lakes ranks as #38 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Detroit Lakes ranks as the #113 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Detroit Lakes, check out:
Detroit Lakes Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Detroit Lakes. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Detroit Lakes is 103.
The Groceries index in Detroit Lakes is 96.
The Health index in Detroit Lakes is 99.
The Housing index in Detroit Lakes is 102.
The Transportation index in Detroit Lakes is 102.
The Utilities index in Detroit Lakes is 100.
| Living Expense | Detroit Lakes | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Detroit Lakes 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 Detroit Lakes Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Detroit Lakes, 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 Detroit Lakes is $361,194.
The Median Rent in Detroit Lakes is $954.
The Median Income in Detroit Lakes is $62,958.
The Home Value To Income in Detroit Lakes is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Detroit Lakes is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Detroit Lakes | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $361,194 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $954 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,958 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Detroit Lakes, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Detroit Lakes Services costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Detroit Lakes | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.04 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.02 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $38.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Detroit Lakes Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Detroit Lakes | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.52 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.48 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.11 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.88 | $3.7 |
Detailed Detroit Lakes Health costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Detroit Lakes | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Detroit Lakes Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Detroit Lakes | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Detroit Lakes Utilities costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Detroit Lakes | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.79 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.52 | $192.25 |
Detroit Lakes SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Detroit Lakes
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Detroit Lakes. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fargo, ND has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Detroit Lakes.
Moorhead, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Detroit Lakes.
Fergus Falls, MN has a cost of living index of 91, 0.9x Detroit Lakes.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Detroit Lakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 131,627 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Moorhead, MN | 45,036 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Fergus Falls, MN | 14,181 | 91 | 0.9x |
