What is the cost of living in Golden Valley, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Golden Valley has an overall cost of living index of 122, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Golden Valley has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Golden Valley ranks as #132 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Golden Valley ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Golden Valley, check out:
Golden Valley Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Golden Valley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Golden Valley is 99.
The Groceries index in Golden Valley is 102.
The Health index in Golden Valley is 170.
The Housing index in Golden Valley is 103.
The Transportation index in Golden Valley is 101.
The Utilities index in Golden Valley is 101.
| Living Expense | Golden Valley | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 122 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 170 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Golden Valley, 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 Golden Valley is $437,256.
The Median Rent in Golden Valley is $1,785.
The Median Income in Golden Valley is $108,772.
The Home Value To Income in Golden Valley is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Golden Valley is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Golden Valley | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $437,256 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,785 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,772 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.0x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Golden Valley, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Golden Valley Services costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Golden Valley | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.32 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.68 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.86 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Golden Valley Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Golden Valley | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.75 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.6 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.76 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.0 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.44 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Golden Valley Health costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Golden Valley | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $164.15 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $95.01 | $113.29 |
Detailed Golden Valley Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Golden Valley | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.32 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.91 | $59.92 |
Detailed Golden Valley Utilities costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Golden Valley | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $180.11 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.59 | $192.25 |
Golden Valley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Golden Valley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Golden Valley. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Minneapolis, MN has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Golden Valley.
Plymouth, MN has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Golden Valley.
Maple Grove, MN has a cost of living index of 117, 1.0x Golden Valley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Golden Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 427,246 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Plymouth, MN | 79,220 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Maple Grove, MN | 71,173 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Eden Prairie, MN | 63,051 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Edina, MN | 53,262 | 141 | 1.2x |
| Minnetonka, MN | 53,064 | 127 | 1.0x |
| St. Louis Park, MN | 49,594 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Brooklyn Center, MN | 32,479 | 102 | 0.8x |
| Shoreview, MN | 26,714 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Crystal, MN | 22,476 | 103 | 0.8x |
