Cost of living in the Rochester Metro Area
4 counties across MN. Population: 227,252.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Rochester Metro Area
Average rent across the Rochester metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Rochester Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 4 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Rochester Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Rochester Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 4 counties in the Rochester Metro Area
The Rochester metro area includes 4 counties. Sorted by population.
- Olmsted County MN$3,394/moPop163,425 Rent$1,101/mo Income$93,494/yrOlmsted County MN 163,425 $1,101/mo $93,494/yr $3,394/mo
- Wabasha County MN$3,022/moPop21,519 Rent$843/mo Income$80,133/yrWabasha County MN 21,519 $843/mo $80,133/yr $3,022/mo
- Fillmore County MN$2,860/moPop21,346 Rent$719/mo Income$75,225/yrFillmore County MN 21,346 $719/mo $75,225/yr $2,860/mo
- Dodge County MN$3,409/moPop20,962 Rent$1,101/mo Income$92,943/yrDodge County MN 20,962 $1,101/mo $92,943/yr $3,409/mo
Compare counties in the Rochester 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 Rochester Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Rochester Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Rochester metro area is approximately $3,310 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 4 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Rochester Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Rochester metro area is $1,041 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Rochester Metro Area?
Fillmore County, MN is the most affordable county in the Rochester metro area at approximately $2,860 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Rochester Metro Area?
Dodge County, MN is the most expensive county in the Rochester metro area at approximately $3,409 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Rochester Metro Area?
The Rochester metro area covers 4 counties. The five largest by population are Olmsted County, Wabasha County, Fillmore County, Dodge County.
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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.