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?
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.
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
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
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.
All salaries in Mankato, MN
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $86,890
Community and Social Service Occupations
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $103,400
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $46,430
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,560
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,300
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $30,000
- Bartender — $24,710
- Waiter and Waitress — $23,330
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $69,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,110
- Retail Salesperson — $35,350
- Cashier — $33,530
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $51,410
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,750
- Office Clerks, General — $47,890
- Customer Service Representative — $47,320
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $56,690
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,650
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,070
- Bus Drivers, School — $46,580
- Light Truck Driver — $45,440
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,500
- Stocker and Order Filler — $39,360