B+
5%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
21%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Winona Minnesota National
Cost of living9599100
Goods & Services103100100
Groceries9798100
Health care110109100
Housing79100100
Transportation9997100
Utilities10193100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Winona, MN

The cost of living in Winona affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Winona is 95, which is 5% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Winona are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Winona can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Winona?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 8 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Winona. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 63% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 38% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Winona Affordable?

Wondering if Winona is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Winona, for example, the median home price is 16.9% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 31.7% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Winona boasting a median household income of $48,653, which is 12.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Winona?

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Winona, the housing index stands at 21.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Winona cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Winona is 5% lower than the Minnesota average
  • The cost of living in Winona is 5% lower than the national average
  • Winona housing is 21% lower than the national average
  • Minnesota general sales tax is 35% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota state income tax is 106% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Winona

See all the best places to live around Winona

Compare Winona, MN Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$66,685$5,557$1,556$2,001
      Renters$24,779$2,065$578$743
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Winona, MN, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Winona, homeowners have a median income of $66,685. Using that number, a maximum of $1,556 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $24,779, which means there is a maximum of $578 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Minnesota Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Minnesota 6.875% 7.875%

      Minnesota Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Minnesota 5.35% 9.85%

      Goods & Services

      Item Winona National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.83$24.2614.1%
      Beauty Salon $39.17$45.5614.0%
      Toothpaste $3.67$3.701.0%
      Shampoo $1.23$1.283.7%
      Movie $10.00$12.1317.6%
      Bowling $15.67$18.0013.0%

      Groceries

      Item Winona National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.94$5.841.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.61$1.572.6%
      Milk $4.58$4.672.0%
      Potatoes $4.49$4.939.0%
      Pizza $12.29$12.091.7%
      Beer $8.47$10.4118.6%

      Health Care

      Item Winona National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $125.00$125.680.5%
      Doctor $179.67$135.7832.3%
      Dentist $107.33$113.295.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.27$10.653.6%
      Lipitor $538.52$468.6014.9%

      Housing

      Item Winona National avg. Difference
      Home Price $153,500.00$184,700.0016.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,958.05$2,346.6916.6%
      Apartment Rent $648.00$949.0031.7%

      Transportation

      Item Winona National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.36$3.462.8%
      Tire Balancing $62.89$59.925.0%

      Utilities

      Item Winona National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $193.62$193.990.2%
      Phone $197.22$192.252.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Dodge, WI1418713.2%
      Cochrane, WI4528812.1%
      Arcadia, WI3,023936.9%
      Utica, MN254936.8%
      Altura, MN451946.4%
      Winona, MN26,772955.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Prior Lake, MN26,77511616.2%
      Florence, AZ26,7771076.6%
      Colleyville, TX26,76615959.0%
      Hutto, TX26,7781077.0%
      West Linn, OR26,76415151.3%
      Winona, MN26,772955.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.