City Comparison

Duluth vs Odessa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Duluth

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

Odessa

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$223,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$73,500
Median Income

The Verdict

0.0%

Living in Duluth costs 0.0% less than Odessa. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Duluth, you would need $75,000 in Odessa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
88
Duluth
72
Odessa
Groceries
99
Duluth
96
Odessa
Utilities
94
Duluth
100
Odessa
Transportation
100
Duluth
93
Odessa
Healthcare
123
Duluth
96
Odessa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $75,000 in Odessa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Odessa equals $75,000 in Duluth.

Living in Duluth vs Odessa

Housing Costs

Duluth's housing index of 88 is higher Odessa's 72, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $223,000. The $45,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,928 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,150/mo in Odessa, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 96 in Odessa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $456/month in Odessa. 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 100 in Odessa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth vs $400 in Odessa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 123 in Duluth and 96 in Odessa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-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 $73,500 in Odessa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $86,471 respectively. Odessa residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,605/month to housing in Duluth vs $1,715/month in Odessa. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Duluth is 0.0% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,000 in Odessa, based on the cost of living difference.
Duluth's housing index is 88 with median homes at $268,000, while Odessa's is 72 with median homes at $223,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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