What is the cost of living in Mankato, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mankato has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Mankato has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Mankato ranks as #38 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Mankato ranks as the #113 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Mankato, check out:
Mankato Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mankato. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mankato is 102.
The Groceries index in Mankato is 101.
The Health index in Mankato is 101.
The Housing index in Mankato is 97.
The Transportation index in Mankato is 108.
The Utilities index in Mankato is 97.
| Living Expense | Mankato | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | 100 |
Mankato 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 Mankato Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mankato, 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 Mankato is $304,131.
The Median Rent in Mankato is $1,132.
The Median Income in Mankato is $66,873.
The Home Value To Income in Mankato is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mankato is 0.2x.
Mankato, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Mankato Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Mankato Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Mankato Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Mankato Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
Mankato SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mankato
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mankato. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Shakopee, MN has a cost of living index of 114, 1.2x Mankato.
Chaska, MN has a cost of living index of 114, 1.2x Mankato.
Prior Lake, MN has a cost of living index of 120, 1.2x Mankato.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mankato |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shakopee, MN | 46,012 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Chaska, MN | 28,706 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Prior Lake, MN | 28,016 | 120 | 1.2x |
| Owatonna, MN | 26,498 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Northfield, MN | 20,742 | 103 | 1.0x |
| North Mankato, MN | 14,211 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Waconia, MN | 13,434 | 114 | 1.2x |
| St. Peter, MN | 12,185 | 97 | 1.0x |
| New Prague, MN | 8,237 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Jordan, MN | 6,771 | 110 | 1.1x |
