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Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

Cost of living in Dakota County, MN

Part of the Minneapolis Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,751/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 442,204 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,381 37%
Federal tax $774 21%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $340 9%
State tax $289 8%
Transport $250 7%
Energy $187 5%
Water $50 1%

Rent in Dakota County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,220
per month
1 bedroom
$1,381
per month
2 bedroom
$1,685
per month
3 bedroom
$2,244
per month
4 bedroom
$2,513
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Dakota County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$105,212
per year
Individual earnings
$57,358
per year
Per capita
$50,901
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Dakota County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$362,100
Annual property tax
$3,610

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Dakota County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$124
per month · 15.5¢/kWh
Natural gas
$63
per month
Annual total
$2,244
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Dakota County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
3.8%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Dakota County

State and local tax rates for Minnesota.

State income tax
9.8%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.9%
Combined sales tax
7.5%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Dakota County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
24.1 min
Drive alone
69.7%
Public transit
1.7%
Work from home
18.9%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Dakota County

What it costs to live in Dakota County each month.

Single person
$3,751
per month
  • Rent $1,381
  • Energy $187
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $340
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $774
  • State tax $289
Couple
$5,704
per month
  • Rent $1,685
  • Energy $224
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $563
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,392
  • State tax $566
Family
$8,407
per month
  • Rent $2,244
  • Energy $280
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $855
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,392
  • State tax $566

Frequently asked questions about Dakota County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Dakota County?

In Dakota County, MN, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,381 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,685 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,244 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Dakota County?

In Dakota County, MN, the average household income is $105,212 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $57,358 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Dakota County?

The estimated cost of living in Dakota County, MN is approximately $3,751 per month for a single person, $5,704 for a couple, $8,407 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Dakota County?

The combined sales tax rate in Dakota County, MN is 7.54%, which includes the Minnesota state rate of 6.88% plus an average local rate of 0.66%.

Is Dakota County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Dakota County, MN would need approximately $3,751 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $105,212 per year ($8,768 per month). Dakota County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Dakota County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Dakota County, MN is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 3.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Dakota County?

The average home value in Dakota County, MN is $362,100, with average annual property taxes of $3,610, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Dakota County compare to other areas?

You can compare Dakota County, MN with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Dakota County is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area.

Other counties in Minnesota

Browse the full list of counties in Minnesota, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Minnesota

Compare Dakota County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources