Cost of Living in Mankato, MN
Mankato, MN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Mankato, MN to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Mankato, MN?
With a price level of 91.0 (U.S. average = 100), Mankato, MN is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 20% below average; everyday goods are 5% below average; utilities are 13% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 8% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Mankato, MN vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | −9.0% |
| Housing | 79.9 | −20.1% |
| Goods | 95.4 | −4.6% |
| Utilities | 87.0 | −13.0% |
| Other services | 92.2 | −7.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Mankato, MN
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $971 | $38,840/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $977 | $39,080/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,171 | $46,840/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,629 | $65,160/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,916 | $76,640/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Mankato, MN
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Mankato, MN | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,400 | $30,299 |
| $60,000 | $54,600 | $43,862 |
| $80,000 | $72,800 | $56,618 |
| $100,000 | $91,000 | $68,184 |
| $150,000 | $136,400 | $96,621 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Minnesota 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Mankato, MN's median wage of $49,530 takes home about $3,344 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $977, which is 29% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,367 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Mankato, MN
- Federal income tax$3,764
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,071
- Medicare (1.45%)$718
- Minnesota income tax$1,845
- Take-home pay$40,133
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.80% state
Highest-paying jobs in Mankato, MN
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $37,560 | $31,169 | $34,268 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Minnesota cities
Half of Minnesota’s 2,949,820 workers earn less than $56,920 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $39,680–$82,520 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Rochester, MN stretches a paycheck furthest, while La Crosse, WI is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | $59,320 | 104.8 | $1,396 | 35% | $2,548 | $45,156 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $47,970 | 90.6 | $978 | 30% | $2,270 | $43,005 |
| Fargo, ND | $51,050 | 90.9 | $917 | 27% | $2,521 | $45,395 |
| Duluth, MN | $50,000 | 88.8 | $978 | 29% | $2,395 | $45,600 |
| Rochester, MN | $60,620 | 90.8 | $1,124 | 28% | $2,900 | $53,170 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $50,840 | 87.6 | $919 | 27% | $2,506 | $46,896 |
| La Crosse, WI | $48,260 | 91.8 | $866 | 27% | $2,400 | $42,709 |
| Mankato, MN | $49,530 | 91.0 | $977 | 29% | $2,367 | $44,124 |
| Grand Forks, ND | $49,760 | 86.7 | $868 | 26% | $2,490 | $46,504 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Mankato, MN vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, MN | 91.0 | $977 | $49,530 | 56,180 |
| Florence, AL | 84.8 | $775 | $39,740 | 56,100 |
| Jackson, MI | 91.8 | $946 | $47,760 | 55,930 |
| Ames, IA | 88.8 | $975 | $50,220 | 55,890 |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 94.1 | $1,060 | $44,230 | 56,490 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 95.1 | $1,281 | $51,860 | 56,810 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 89.5 | $925 | $43,210 | 55,550 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Mankato, MN expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Mankato, MN metro area are 91.0% of the U.S. average, with housing at 79.9%. It is the #269 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Mankato, MN?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,573 in Mankato, MN (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,530.
Can you afford Mankato, MN on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,530 median wage takes home about $3,344 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $977 would take 29% of that.
How much is rent in Mankato, MN?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Mankato, MN are $971 for a studio, $977 for one bedroom, $1,171 for two bedrooms and $1,629 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Mankato, MN
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,560