What is the cost of living in Thief River Falls, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Thief River Falls has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Thief River Falls has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Thief River Falls ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Thief River Falls ranks as the #138 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Thief River Falls, check out:
Thief River Falls Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Thief River Falls. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Thief River Falls is 96.
The Groceries index in Thief River Falls is 99.
The Health index in Thief River Falls is 79.
The Housing index in Thief River Falls is 97.
The Transportation index in Thief River Falls is 102.
The Utilities index in Thief River Falls is 100.
| Living Expense | Thief River Falls | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 79 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Thief River Falls 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 Thief River Falls Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Thief River Falls, 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 Thief River Falls is $184,519.
The Median Rent in Thief River Falls is $838.
The Median Income in Thief River Falls is $71,144.
The Home Value To Income in Thief River Falls is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Thief River Falls is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Thief River Falls | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $184,519 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $838 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $71,144 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.6x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Thief River Falls, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Thief River Falls Services costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Thief River Falls | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.04 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.02 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $38.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Thief River Falls Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Thief River Falls | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.52 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.48 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.11 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.88 | $3.7 |
Detailed Thief River Falls Health costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Thief River Falls | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Thief River Falls Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Thief River Falls | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Thief River Falls Utilities costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Thief River Falls | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.79 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.52 | $192.25 |
Thief River Falls SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Thief River Falls
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Thief River Falls. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Grand Forks, ND has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Thief River Falls.
East Grand Forks, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Thief River Falls.
Crookston, MN has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Thief River Falls.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Thief River Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND | 59,042 | 102 | 1.1x |
| East Grand Forks, MN | 9,028 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Crookston, MN | 7,344 | 92 | 1.0x |
