Cost of living in Duluth, MN Livability score 68 · cost-of-living index 87.2 (US = 100)
How Duluth compares Where Duluth falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 87 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 87 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $264k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $264k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $147 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $147 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 8.1% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 8.1% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.12% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.12% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 280 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 280 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 16.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 16.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 83° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 83° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 4° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 4° Map of Duluth Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 87.2 #6 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.9 #118 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $4.96 #6 of 200 Median household income $67,612 #125 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $38,215 #124 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 4.41% #48 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +4.4% #89 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $264,350 #54 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.9× #44 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +6.6% #4 of 200 Price per square foot $147 #60 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,800 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,381 #46 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 925 Median days on market 7 #18 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 12.1% #154 of 200 Combined sales tax 8.10% #114 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 9.85% Capital gains tax 9.85% #163 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 1.12% #122 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,167 #75 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,800 #93 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $16,000 #150 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $200 #135 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.58% of value (~$442/yr) #161 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 2 Avg commute to work 20 min #14 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 16.4¢/kWh #81 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $148 #81 of 200 Gasoline $3.15/gal #57 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,200 #129 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 #51 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 39 #31 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 700 #25 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 8,000 #197 of 200 Avg summer high 83°F #21 of 200 Avg winter low 4°F #198 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 4b Frost window 05-20 → 09-25
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 280 #21 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 1,900 #63 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 26 #143 of 200 Parks 28 Hiking areas 16 Golf courses 9 Shooting ranges 5 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.