Cost of living in the Duluth Metro Area
3 counties across MN and WI. Population: 280,710.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Duluth Metro Area
Average rent across the Duluth metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Duluth Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Duluth Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Duluth Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Duluth Metro Area
The Duluth metro area includes 3 counties across MN and WI. Sorted by population.
- Duluth MN$2,949/moPop200,056 Rent$896/mo Income$69,455/yrDuluth MN 200,056 $896/mo $69,455/yr $2,949/mo
- Douglas County WI$2,923/moPop44,197 Rent$896/mo Income$72,579/yrDouglas County WI 44,197 $896/mo $72,579/yr $2,923/mo
- Carlton County MN$3,113/moPop36,457 Rent$896/mo Income$80,042/yrCarlton County MN 36,457 $896/mo $80,042/yr $3,113/mo
Compare counties in the Duluth Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Duluth Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Duluth Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Duluth metro area is approximately $2,966 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Duluth Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Duluth metro area is $896 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Duluth Metro Area?
Douglas County, WI is the most affordable county in the Duluth metro area at approximately $2,923 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Duluth Metro Area?
Carlton County, MN is the most expensive county in the Duluth metro area at approximately $3,113 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Duluth Metro Area?
The Duluth metro area covers 3 counties across MN and WI. The five largest by population are Duluth, Douglas County, Carlton County.
Use this research
Journalists, researchers and bloggers are welcome to cite and share this analysis. Please include a follow link back to this page when referencing our data. For bespoke analysis, expert comment, or high-resolution graphics, get in touch via our press office.
About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.