Duluth vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Duluth
Medford
The Verdict
Duluth is 19.8% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Duluth would need approximately $93,529 in Medford to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $93,529 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $60,142 in Duluth.
Living in Duluth vs Medford
Housing Costs
Duluth's housing index of 88 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $406,000. The $138,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,976 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $513/month in Medford. Duluth offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Duluth and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 123 in Duluth and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-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 $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $69,057 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 $1,708/month in Medford. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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