What is the cost of living in Duluth, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Duluth has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Duluth has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Duluth ranks as #44 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Duluth ranks as the #107 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Duluth, check out:
Duluth Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Duluth. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Duluth is 102.
The Groceries index in Duluth is 98.
The Health index in Duluth is 91.
The Housing index in Duluth is 105.
The Transportation index in Duluth is 106.
The Utilities index in Duluth is 98.
| Living Expense | Duluth | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 91 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Duluth 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 Duluth Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Duluth, 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 Duluth is $284,099.
The Median Rent in Duluth is $1,087.
The Median Income in Duluth is $68,807.
The Home Value To Income in Duluth is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Duluth is 0.19x.
Duluth, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Duluth Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Duluth Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Duluth Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Duluth Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
Duluth SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Duluth
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Duluth. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Superior, WI has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Duluth.
Cloquet, MN has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Duluth.
Hermantown, MN has a cost of living index of 114, 1.1x Duluth.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Duluth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior, WI | 26,677 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Cloquet, MN | 12,537 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Hermantown, MN | 10,218 | 114 | 1.1x |
