Median rent is 13% lower in Cottage Grove ($1,644/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Cottage Grove, where the median home runs $359,600 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Cottage Grove ($121,452 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Cottage Grove, MN
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Cottage Grove, MN?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Cottage Grove
Minnesota
Los Angeles
California
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Cottage Grove at $1,644/mo compared to $1,879/mo in Los Angeles (13% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $359,600 in Cottage Grove — 59% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85% versus 13.30% in California, so Cottage Grove is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.88% in Minnesota and 7.25% in California; Cottage Grove has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Cottage Grove
Income tax: 9.85%
Sales tax: 6.88%
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Cottage Grove.
Pick Cottage Grove if you prioritize higher median household income ($121,452/yr).
Pick Cottage Grove if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,644/mo median).
Pick Cottage Grove if you prioritize lower state income tax (9.85%).
Is Cottage Grove cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Cottage Grove vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $1,644/mo in Cottage Grove, MN and $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Cottage Grove, MN has the lower rent by about 13%.
Which has higher salaries — Cottage Grove or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $121,452 in Cottage Grove, MN and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA. Cottage Grove, MN has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Cottage Grove or Los Angeles?
Minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85% and California's is 13.30%. Cottage Grove, MN has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match my Cottage Grove income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology