Madison Lake, MN vs Grand Marais, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Grand Marais, MN has a modeled overall cost index 22.1% lower than Madison Lake, MN.

Madison Lake, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,180 / 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 Madison Lake, MN 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

Current salary in Madison Lake, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,381/month in Grand Marais, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $133,424 in Grand Marais, MN

Regional cost estimates: Madison Lake, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Grand Marais, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 22.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,381

Savings

Annual Impact

$16.6K

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.

Madison Lake, MN

Population:1K

Cost Index:

88.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$423K

Grand Marais, MN

Population:1K

Cost Index:

69.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$396K

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Madison Lake, MN

The North Star State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Grand Marais, MN

The North Star State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Madison Lake, MN 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.

Category	Madison Lake, MN	Grand Marais, MN	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,308/mo	$1,780/mo	↓ $528less	22.9%
Other	$1,621/mo	$1,262/mo	↓ $360less	22.2%
Transportation	$1,261/mo	$1,010/mo	↓ $251less	19.9%
Groceries	$1,037/mo	$928/mo	↓ $109less	10.5%
Healthcare	$761/mo	$681/mo	↓ $79.99less	10.5%
All Utilities	$512/mo	$458/mo	↓ $53.78less	10.5%

Housing

↓ 22.9%

Madison Lake, MN

$2,308

Grand Marais, MN

$1,780

Difference

$528

less

Other

↓ 22.2%

Madison Lake, MN

$1,621

Grand Marais, MN

$1,262

Difference

$360

less

Transportation

↓ 19.9%

Madison Lake, MN

$1,261

Grand Marais, MN

$1,010

Difference

$251

less

Groceries

↓ 10.5%

Madison Lake, MN

$1,037

Grand Marais, MN

$928

Difference

$109

less

Healthcare

↓ 10.5%

Madison Lake, MN

$761

Grand Marais, MN

$681

Difference

$79.99

less

All Utilities

↓ 10.5%

Madison Lake, MN

$512

Grand Marais, MN

$458

Difference

$53.78

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$920

To$700

↓ $220

1 Bed

From$930

To$930

→ $0

2 Bed

From$1,180

To$1,020

↓ $160

3 Bed

From$1,630

To$1,350

↓ $280

Madison Lake, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/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 Madison Lake, MN

$6,119

Monthly in Grand Marais, MN

$1,381

Difference

Home Values

Madison Lake

Grand Marais

$423K

Median Value

$396K

↑ +4.6%

YoY Change

↑ +1.2%

↑ +38%

5-Year Change

↑ +47.5%

Homes in Grand Marais are 6% less expensive than Madison Lake

Calculate payment - Madison Lake Calculate payment - Grand Marais

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

Madison Lake, 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

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

Madison Lake, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

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

Madison Lake

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 Madison Lake, MN to Grand Marais, MN

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Grand Marais, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Madison Lake, 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 Madison Lake 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: Madison Lake, MN vs Grand Marais, MN

How do the cost estimates for Madison Lake, MN and Grand Marais, MN compare?

Grand Marais, MN has a modeled overall cost index 22.1% lower than Madison Lake, 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 Madison Lake, MN, the model estimates $133,424 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 Madison Lake, MN and Grand Marais, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,180/month in Madison Lake, MN 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.

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