Arnolds Park, IA vs Grand Marais, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Grand Marais, MN has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% lower than Arnolds Park, IA.

Arnolds Park, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / month
Grand Marais, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Arnolds Park, IA and Grand Marais, MN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated savings: $68.95/month in Grand Marais, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,173 in Grand Marais, MN

Regional cost estimates: Arnolds Park, IA uses Minneapolis, MN. Grand Marais, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$68.95
Savings
Annual Impact
$827
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Arnolds Park, IA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
70.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$453K

Grand Marais, MN

Population:1K
Cost Index:
69.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$396K

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Arnolds Park, IA

The Hawkeye State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Grand Marais, MN

The North Star State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Arnolds Park, IA vs Grand Marais, MN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 2.8%
Arnolds Park, IA
$2,224
Grand Marais, MN
$2,162
Difference
$62.21
less
Other
↓ 1.9%
Arnolds Park, IA
$1,562
Grand Marais, MN
$1,533
Difference
$29.92
less
Transportation
↑ 0.9%
Arnolds Park, IA
$1,215
Grand Marais, MN
$1,226
Difference
$11.44
more
Groceries
↑ 0.5%
Arnolds Park, IA
$1,121
Grand Marais, MN
$1,127
Difference
$5.27
more
Healthcare
↑ 0.5%
Arnolds Park, IA
$824
Grand Marais, MN
$827
Difference
$3.87
more
All Utilities
↑ 0.5%
Arnolds Park, IA
$554
Grand Marais, MN
$556
Difference
$2.60
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$810
To$700
↓ $110
1 Bed
From$810
To$930
↑ $120
2 Bed
From$1,070
To$1,020
↓ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,350
↑ $60.00
Arnolds Park, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$810/mo

Grand Marais, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Arnolds Park, IA
$7,431
Monthly in Grand Marais, MN
$68.95
Difference

Home Values

Arnolds Park
Grand Marais
$453K
Median Value
$396K
↓ -2.4%
YoY Change
↑ +1.2%
↑ +42.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +47.5%

Homes in Grand Marais are 13% less expensive than Arnolds Park

Calculate payment - Arnolds ParkCalculate payment - Grand Marais

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $272
Per year
Monthly Difference
$22.70
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Arnolds Park, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Grand Marais, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Additional Tax Information

Arnolds Park, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Grand Marais, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Arnolds Park
Grand Marais
42 Good
Air Quality
36 Good
66.4%
Good Air Days
72.4%
98 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Arnolds Park, IA to Grand Marais, MN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Grand Marais, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Arnolds Park, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Arnolds Park to Grand Marais moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Grand Marais, MN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Arnolds Park, IA vs Grand Marais, MN

How do the cost estimates for Arnolds Park, IA and Grand Marais, MN compare?

Grand Marais, MN has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% lower than Arnolds Park, IA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Arnolds Park, IA, the model estimates $149,173 in Grand Marais, MN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Arnolds Park, IA and Grand Marais, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,070/month in Arnolds Park, IA and $1,020/month in Grand Marais, MN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Iowa and Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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