What is the cost of living in Forest Lake, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Forest Lake has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Forest Lake has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Forest Lake ranks as #111 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Forest Lake ranks as the #40 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Forest Lake, check out:
Forest Lake Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Forest Lake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Forest Lake is 97.
The Groceries index in Forest Lake is 100.
The Health index in Forest Lake is 149.
The Housing index in Forest Lake is 98.
The Transportation index in Forest Lake is 108.
The Utilities index in Forest Lake is 100.
| Living Expense | Forest Lake | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 115 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 149 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Forest Lake, 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 Forest Lake is $421,551.
The Median Rent in Forest Lake is $1,421.
The Median Income in Forest Lake is $92,944.
The Home Value To Income in Forest Lake is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Forest Lake is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Forest Lake | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $421,551 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,421 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $92,944 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Forest Lake, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Forest Lake Services costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Forest Lake | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.3 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.47 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $34.55 | $45.56 |
Detailed Forest Lake Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Forest Lake | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.49 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.36 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Forest Lake Health costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Forest Lake | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $145.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $229.08 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Forest Lake Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Forest Lake | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.74 | $59.92 |
Detailed Forest Lake Utilities costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Forest Lake | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $175.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.39 | $192.25 |
Forest Lake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Forest Lake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Forest Lake. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Roseville, MN has a cost of living index of 113, 1.0x Forest Lake.
Andover, MN has a cost of living index of 122, 1.1x Forest Lake.
Shoreview, MN has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Forest Lake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Forest Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roseville, MN | 35,802 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Andover, MN | 33,035 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Shoreview, MN | 26,714 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Lino Lakes, MN | 22,113 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Ham Lake, MN | 16,702 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Hugo, MN | 16,340 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Lake Elmo, MN | 13,140 | 132 | 1.1x |
| Vadnais Heights, MN | 12,838 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Arden Hills, MN | 9,658 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Mahtomedi, MN | 8,133 | 126 | 1.1x |
