States › Minnesota › Brainerd

Is Brainerd, MN expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 25 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,27128% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$60,516about $5,043/month · 30% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$192,50042% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 71% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.2 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 19.8 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $50,840 a year. That is $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Minnesota cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Minnesota. It is number 38 of 150 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Brainerd
$1,271
Hutchinson
$1,127
Robbinsdale
$2,252
North Mankato
$1,168
Alexandria
$1,156
Fergus Falls
$1,056
Monticello
$1,474

How much do households earn in Brainerd?

Under $25k
20.3%
$25k–50k
30.5%
$50k–100k
34.6%
$100k–150k
7.2%
$150k+
4.1%

Share of households by yearly income. 11.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Brainerd

SizeBrainerdU.S. average
Studio$725$1,338
1 bedroom$722$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,074$1,509
3 bedrooms$968$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,303$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Brainerd overall?

Everyday prices in Minnesota overall are 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.6, U.S. = 100).

Housing
91
Goods (food, clothes…)
101
Utilities
91
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Brainerd, so the Minnesota figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Brainerd

🏛️ Property tax$2,082a year · 1.08% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$126a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Brainerd

Commute to work19.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree20.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home56.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line15%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brainerd?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $65 a month less.

Renting
$1,271
Owning
$1,336

Owning assumes a typical $192,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $19,250 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Brainerd, MN?

Renting in Brainerd costs a median of about $1,271 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Minnesota median is $1,525.

How much do I need to make to live in Brainerd?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $50,840 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Brainerd cheap or expensive?

Brainerd is rated OK: rent takes 25.2% of the typical household income of $60,516. It ranks 38th cheapest of 150 Minnesota cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Brainerd?

The median homeowner in Brainerd pays $2,082 a year in property taxes, about 1.08% of the median home value.

Is Brainerd more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Minnesota are 1% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Brainerd?

The median home value in Brainerd is $192,500, about 3.2 times the typical yearly household income.

14,468 people live in Brainerd. Numbers are typical (middle) values.