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 1.1x higher than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Stillwater ranks as #100 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Stillwater ranks as the #51 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Stillwater, check out:
Stillwater Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Stillwater. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Stillwater is 99.
The Groceries index in Stillwater is 99.
The Health index in Stillwater is 151.
The Housing index in Stillwater is 99.
The Transportation index in Stillwater is 104.
The Utilities index in Stillwater is 96.
| Living Expense | Stillwater | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 151 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Stillwater 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 Stillwater Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Stillwater is $445,501.
The Median Rent in Stillwater is $1,622.
The Median Income in Stillwater is $105,853.
The Home Value To Income in Stillwater is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Stillwater is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Stillwater | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $445,501 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,622 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $105,853 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.2x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
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
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 120, 1.1x Stillwater.
Cottage Grove, MN has a cost of living index of 115, 1.0x Stillwater.
Roseville, MN has a cost of living index of 113, 1.0x Stillwater.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Stillwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury, MN | 78,305 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Cottage Grove, MN | 40,992 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Roseville, MN | 35,802 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Shoreview, MN | 26,714 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Lino Lakes, MN | 22,113 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Hugo, MN | 16,340 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Lake Elmo, MN | 13,140 | 132 | 1.2x |
| Mendota Heights, MN | 11,612 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Arden Hills, MN | 9,658 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Mahtomedi, MN | 8,133 | 126 | 1.1x |
