What is the cost of living in White Bear Lake, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, White Bear Lake has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, White Bear Lake has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in White Bear Lake ranks as #81 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies White Bear Lake ranks as the #70 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in White Bear Lake, check out:
White Bear Lake Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in White Bear Lake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in White Bear Lake is 101.
The Groceries index in White Bear Lake is 102.
The Health index in White Bear Lake is 131.
The Housing index in White Bear Lake is 98.
The Transportation index in White Bear Lake is 102.
The Utilities index in White Bear Lake is 102.
| Living Expense | White Bear Lake | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 131 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 101 | 100 |
White Bear Lake 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 White Bear Lake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
White Bear Lake, 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 White Bear Lake is $355,724.
The Median Rent in White Bear Lake is $1,601.
The Median Income in White Bear Lake is $83,554.
The Home Value To Income in White Bear Lake is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in White Bear Lake is 0.23x.
| Statistic | White Bear Lake | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $355,724 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,601 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $83,554 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
White Bear Lake, MN Costs By Category
Detailed White Bear Lake Services costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | White Bear Lake | 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 White Bear Lake Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | White Bear Lake | 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 White Bear Lake Health costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | White Bear Lake | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $145.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $229.08 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed White Bear Lake Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | White Bear Lake | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.74 | $59.92 |
Detailed White Bear Lake Utilities costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | White Bear Lake | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $175.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.39 | $192.25 |
White Bear Lake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around White Bear Lake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around White Bear Lake. 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 White Bear Lake.
Eagan, MN has a cost of living index of 117, 1.1x White Bear Lake.
Cottage Grove, MN has a cost of living index of 115, 1.1x White Bear Lake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. White Bear Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury, MN | 78,305 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Eagan, MN | 68,000 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Cottage Grove, MN | 40,992 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Maplewood, MN | 40,695 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Richfield, MN | 36,642 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Shoreview, MN | 26,714 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Champlin, MN | 23,294 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Golden Valley, MN | 21,725 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Lake Elmo, MN | 13,140 | 132 | 1.2x |
| Vadnais Heights, MN | 12,838 | 109 | 1.0x |
