Cottage Grove, MN vs Apple Valley, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Apple Valley, MN has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% higher than Cottage Grove, MN.

Cottage Grove, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $2,100 / month
Apple Valley, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,960 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Cottage Grove, MN and Apple Valley, 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

Current salary in Cottage Grove, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $39.75/month in Apple Valley, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,477 in Apple Valley, MN

Regional cost estimates: Cottage Grove, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Apple Valley, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 0.6%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$39.75

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$477

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.

Cottage Grove, MN

Population:42K

Cost Index:

100.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$384K

Apple Valley, MN

Population:55K

Cost Index:

101.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$365K

Planning the move to Apple Valley?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Cottage Grove, MN

The North Star State

42K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 42K residents.

Apple Valley, MN

The North Star State

55K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 55K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Cottage Grove, MN vs Apple Valley, 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.

Category	Cottage Grove, MN	Apple Valley, MN	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,315/mo	$2,329/mo	↑ $14.42more	0.6%
Other	$1,641/mo	$1,651/mo	↑ $10.22more	0.6%
Transportation	$1,313/mo	$1,321/mo	↑ $8.18more	0.6%
Groceries	$1,001/mo	$1,005/mo	↑ $3.11more	0.3%
Healthcare	$735/mo	$738/mo	↑ $2.29more	0.3%
All Utilities	$494/mo	$496/mo	↑ $1.54more	0.3%

Housing

↑ 0.6%

Cottage Grove, MN

$2,315

Apple Valley, MN

$2,329

Difference

$14.42

Other

↑ 0.6%

Cottage Grove, MN

$1,641

Apple Valley, MN

$1,651

Difference

$10.22

Transportation

↑ 0.6%

Cottage Grove, MN

$1,313

Apple Valley, MN

$1,321

Difference

$8.18

Groceries

↑ 0.3%

Cottage Grove, MN

$1,001

Apple Valley, MN

$1,005

Difference

$3.11

Healthcare

↑ 0.3%

Cottage Grove, MN

$735

Apple Valley, MN

$738

Difference

$2.29

All Utilities

↑ 0.3%

Cottage Grove, MN

$494

Apple Valley, MN

$496

Difference

$1.54

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,530

To$1,420

↓ $110

1 Bed

From$1,730

To$1,610

↓ $120

2 Bed

From$2,100

To$1,960

↓ $140

3 Bed

From$2,780

To$2,590

↓ $190

Cottage Grove, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,730–$1,730/mo

Apple Valley, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,610–$1,610/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 Cottage Grove, MN

$7,540

Monthly in Apple Valley, MN

$39.75

Difference

Home Values

Cottage Grove

Apple Valley

$384K

Median Value

$365K

↑ +1.2%

YoY Change

↑ +1%

↑ +18.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +20.2%

Homes in Apple Valley are 5% less expensive than Cottage Grove

Calculate payment - Cottage Grove Calculate payment - Apple Valley

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Cottage Grove, 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

Apple Valley, 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

Cottage Grove, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

Apple Valley, 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

Cottage Grove

Apple Valley

36 Good

Air Quality

36 Good

72.4%

Good Air Days

72.4%

95 High

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.7°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.7°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

Before moving from Cottage Grove, MN to Apple Valley, MN

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Apple Valley, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Cottage Grove, MN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Cottage Grove to Apple Valley moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Cottage Grove, MN vs Apple Valley, MN

How do the cost estimates for Cottage Grove, MN and Apple Valley, MN compare?

Apple Valley, MN has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% higher than Cottage Grove, MN. 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 Cottage Grove, MN, the model estimates $150,477 in Apple Valley, 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 Cottage Grove, MN and Apple Valley, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,100/month in Cottage Grove, MN and $1,960/month in Apple Valley, 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.