City Comparison

Duluth vs Springdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Duluth

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

Springdale

Arkansas
87
Below Average
$299,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$62,100
Median Income

The Verdict

2.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 2.3%, with Duluth being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Duluth has equivalent purchasing power to $76,765 in Springdale.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
88
Duluth
86
Springdale
Groceries
99
Duluth
97
Springdale
Utilities
94
Duluth
93
Springdale
Transportation
100
Duluth
91
Springdale
Healthcare
123
Duluth
82
Springdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $76,765 in Springdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springdale equals $73,276 in Duluth.

Living in Duluth vs Springdale

Housing Costs

Duluth's housing index of 88 is higher Springdale's 86, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $299,000. The $31,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,016 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,000/mo in Springdale, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 97 in Springdale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $461/month in Springdale. 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 93 in Springdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth vs $372 in Springdale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 123 in Duluth and 82 in Springdale. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 41-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 $62,100 in Springdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $71,379 respectively. Duluth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,605/month to housing in Duluth vs $1,449/month in Springdale. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Springdale, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 41 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Duluth is 2.3% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 87.
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $76,765 in Springdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Duluth's housing index is 88 with median homes at $268,000, while Springdale's is 86 with median homes at $299,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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