What is the cost of living in Waite Park, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waite Park has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Waite Park has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Waite Park ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Waite Park ranks as the #127 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Waite Park, check out:
Waite Park Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waite Park. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waite Park is 99.
The Groceries index in Waite Park is 100.
The Health index in Waite Park is 87.
The Housing index in Waite Park is 101.
The Transportation index in Waite Park is 108.
The Utilities index in Waite Park is 100.
| Living Expense | Waite Park | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 87 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Waite Park 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 Waite Park Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Waite Park, 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 Waite Park is $249,244.
The Median Rent in Waite Park is $1,117.
The Median Income in Waite Park is $59,285.
The Home Value To Income in Waite Park is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waite Park is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Waite Park | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $249,244 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,117 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $59,285 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.2x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Waite Park, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Waite Park Services costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Waite Park | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.52 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.24 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $26.39 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.97 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Waite Park Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Waite Park | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.75 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.86 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.07 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.52 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Waite Park Health costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Waite Park | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.94 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.98 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.9 | $113.29 |
Detailed Waite Park Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Waite Park | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Waite Park Utilities costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | Waite Park | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $175.69 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.55 | $192.25 |
Waite Park SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waite Park
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waite Park. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Maple Grove, MN has a cost of living index of 117, 1.2x Waite Park.
St. Cloud, MN has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Waite Park.
Andover, MN has a cost of living index of 122, 1.3x Waite Park.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waite Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Grove, MN | 71,173 | 117 | 1.2x |
| St. Cloud, MN | 70,629 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Andover, MN | 33,035 | 122 | 1.3x |
| Champlin, MN | 23,294 | 111 | 1.2x |
| St. Michael, MN | 20,010 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Sartell, MN | 19,758 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Sauk Rapids, MN | 13,852 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Rogers, MN | 13,685 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Oak Grove, MN | 9,130 | 120 | 1.2x |
| Mound, MN | 9,107 | 109 | 1.1x |
