Stillwater, MN Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Stillwater, MN Summary

Cost of living in Stillwater research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Stillwater is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Minnesota, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Stillwater is 113, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Stillwater is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Stillwater ranks as the #113 cheapest in Minnesota out of 148.

  • Stillwater ranks as the #3,948 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Stillwater is $438,935.

  • The median income in Stillwater is $109,297.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
113
Stillwater's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Stillwater, MN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Stillwater has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Minnesota, Stillwater has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Minnesota's index of 97.

The standard of living in Stillwater ranks as #113 most affordable out of the 148 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Stillwater ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the North Star State.

For more reading on life in Stillwater, check out:

113 out of 148
In Minnesota
3,948 out of 6,489
In America

Stillwater Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Stillwater. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Stillwater is 96.

  • The Groceries index in Stillwater is 97.

  • The Health index in Stillwater is 102.

  • The Housing index in Stillwater is 148.

  • The Transportation index in Stillwater is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Stillwater is 94.

Living Expense Stillwater Minnesota National Average
Overall 113 97 100
Services 96 101 100
Groceries 97 99 100
Health 102 110 100
Housing 148 100 100
Transportation 98 95 100
Utilities 94 94 100
For more reading on cost of living around Minnesota, check out:
Stillwater Cost of Living Vs. MN

Stillwater, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Stillwater is $438,935.

  • The Median Rent in Stillwater is $1,408.

  • The Median Income in Stillwater is $109,297.

  • The Home Value To Income in Stillwater is 4.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Stillwater is 0.15x.

Statistic Stillwater Minnesota United States
Median Home Value $438,935 $344,484 $303,400
Median Rent $1,408 $1,235 $1,348
Median Income $109,297 $87,556 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.0x 3.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.15x 0.17x 0.21x
$438,935
Median Home Value
$1,408
Median Rent
$109,297
Median Income

Stillwater, MN Costs By Category

Detailed Stillwater Services Costs Vs. Minnesota

Item Stillwater 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 Stillwater Groceries Costs Vs. Minnesota

Item Stillwater 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 Stillwater Health Costs Vs. Minnesota

Item Stillwater Minnesota
Optometrist $145.44 $125.68
Doctor $229.08 $135.78
Dentist $108.67 $113.29

Detailed Stillwater Transportation Costs Vs. Minnesota

Item Stillwater Minnesota
Gasoline $3.38 $3.46
Tire Balancing $61.74 $59.92

Detailed Stillwater Utilities Costs Vs. Minnesota

Item Stillwater Minnesota
All Electricity $175.38 $193.99
Phone $187.39 $192.25

Stillwater SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
8
Diversity
6
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
9
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Stillwater

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Stillwater. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Woodbury, MN has a cost of living index of 122, 1.1x Stillwater.

  • Cottage Grove, MN has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x Stillwater.

  • Roseville, MN has a cost of living index of 108, 1.0x Stillwater.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Stillwater
Woodbury, MN 76,945 122 1.1x
Cottage Grove, MN 40,124 110 1.0x
Roseville, MN 35,905 108 1.0x
Shoreview, MN 26,724 111 1.0x
Lino Lakes, MN 21,847 117 1.0x
Hugo, MN 16,076 112 1.0x
Lake Elmo, MN 12,504 128 1.1x
Mendota Heights, MN 11,644 122 1.1x
Arden Hills, MN 9,737 118 1.0x
Mahtomedi, MN 8,108 122 1.1x

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