Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Scott County, MN would need to be about $37,705 in Mahnomen County, MN, or $12,295 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Scott County, MN vs Mahnomen County, MN: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Mahnomen County, MN is cheaper than Scott County, MN.
Moving to Mahnomen County, MN is estimated to save $13,974 per year.
Cheaper County
Mahnomen County, MNSave about $13,974 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Scott County, MN is about $37,705 in Mahnomen County, MN.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $673 per year. Housing saves $7,805 per year.
Housing: $7,805 lower in Mahnomen County, MN
Taxes: $3,422 lower in Mahnomen County, MN
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $673 higher in Mahnomen County, MN
Food: $438 lower in Mahnomen County, MN
Transport: $420 lower in Mahnomen County, MN
Scott County, MN→Mahnomen County, MN
Equivalent salary in Mahnomen County, MN
$37,705
-24.59% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Scott County, MN: $138,181
Median Income in Mahnomen County, MN: $64,342
Living Index in Scott County, MN 41.12%
Living Index in Mahnomen County, MN 66.60%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Scott County, MN to Mahnomen County, MN.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Scott County, MN to Mahnomen County, MN is estimated to save $13,974 per year. A $50,000 salary in Scott County, MN would have similar purchasing power to about $37,705 in Mahnomen County, MN. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -24.59% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $7,805 per year lower (-50.4%); Taxes is $3,422 per year lower (-30.16%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Scott County, MN and Mahnomen County, MN, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 41.1% of median family income in Scott County, MN and 66.6% in Mahnomen County, MN. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $7,805 per year lower in Mahnomen County, MN than in Scott County, MN. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Mahnomen County, MN changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $438 per year lower in Mahnomen County, MN than in Scott County, MN. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Mahnomen County, MN can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $420 per year lower in Mahnomen County, MN than in Scott County, MN. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Mahnomen County, MN.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $673 per year higher in Mahnomen County, MN than in Scott County, MN. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Mahnomen County, MN changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,560 per year lower in Mahnomen County, MN than in Scott County, MN. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Mahnomen County, MN help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Scott County, MN and Mahnomen County, MN, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Mahnomen County, MN, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $3,422 per year lower in Mahnomen County, MN than in Scott County, MN. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Mahnomen County, MN matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Mahnomen County, MN.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Mahnomen County, MN
Annual Increase:
$673 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Mahnomen County, MN.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Mahnomen County, MN
Annual Savings:
$7,805 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Mahnomen County, MN.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -50% lower | |
| Food | -9% lower | |
| Transport | -3% lower | |
| Healthcare | 16% higher | |
| Other Costs | -41% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -30% lower |
In Mahnomen County, MN, modeled annual costs are $42,851 compared with $56,825 in Scott County, MN.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Mahnomen County, MN. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Mahnomen County, MN is not a metropolitan location, while Scott County, MN is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
