City Comparison

Duluth vs Irving

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Duluth

Minnesota
85
Very Affordable
$268,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$68,800
Median Income

Irving

Texas
100
Average
$318,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$73,400
Median Income

The Verdict

15.0%

Living in Duluth costs 15.0% less than Irving. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Duluth, you would need $88,235 in Irving.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
88
Duluth
94
Irving
Groceries
99
Duluth
99
Irving
Utilities
94
Duluth
111
Irving
Transportation
100
Duluth
97
Irving
Healthcare
123
Duluth
103
Irving

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $88,235 in Irving.

Conversely, $75,000 in Irving equals $63,750 in Duluth.

Living in Duluth vs Irving

Housing Costs

Duluth's housing index of 88 is lower Irving's 94, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $318,000. The $50,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,252 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,350/mo in Irving, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 99 in Irving. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $470/month in Irving. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Duluth and 111 in Irving. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth vs $444 in Irving. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 123 in Duluth and 103 in Irving. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $68,800 in Duluth and $73,400 in Irving. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $73,400 respectively. Duluth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,605/month to housing in Duluth vs $1,713/month in Irving. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Irving, median rent of $1,350/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Duluth is 15.0% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $88,235 in Irving, based on the cost of living difference.
Duluth's housing index is 88 with median homes at $268,000, while Irving's is 94 with median homes at $318,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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