What is the cost of living in Rochester, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rochester has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Rochester has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Rochester ranks as #81 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Rochester ranks as the #70 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Rochester, check out:
Rochester Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rochester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rochester is 100.
The Groceries index in Rochester is 100.
The Health index in Rochester is 117.
The Housing index in Rochester is 102.
The Transportation index in Rochester is 108.
The Utilities index in Rochester is 97.
| Living Expense | Rochester | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 117 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | 100 |
Rochester 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 Rochester Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Rochester, 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 Rochester is $339,454.
The Median Rent in Rochester is $1,399.
The Median Income in Rochester is $89,389.
The Home Value To Income in Rochester is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rochester is 0.19x.
Rochester, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Rochester Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Rochester Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Rochester Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Rochester Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
Rochester SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rochester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rochester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Owatonna, MN has a cost of living index of 98, 0.9x Rochester.
Austin, MN has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Rochester.
Winona, MN has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x Rochester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owatonna, MN | 26,498 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Austin, MN | 26,358 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Winona, MN | 26,009 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Faribault, MN | 24,631 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Northfield, MN | 20,742 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Red Wing, MN | 16,758 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Kasson, MN | 7,050 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Stewartville, MN | 6,807 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Byron, MN | 6,646 | 109 | 1.0x |
