Studio Rent · March 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Albert Lea, MN

$640/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Albert Lea, Minnesota as of March 2026. That's +34% lower than the citywide median of $963 and +50% below the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$640
March 2026
vs city overall
-34%
$963 city median
vs national
-50%
$1,290 US median
Minnesota rank
#1
of 66 cities

Income needed for a studio in Albert Lea

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$25,600
Monthly gross
$2,133
Hourly (full-time)
$12.31

Rent by apartment size in Albert Lea

Compare Albert Lea's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$640
1-Bedroom
$710
2-Bedroom
$930
3-Bedroom
$1,200
4+ Bedroom
$1,350

Cheapest cities for a studio in Minnesota

#CityStudio rent
1Albert Lea (this page)$640
2Winona$700
3Moorhead$710
4Austin$720
5Owatonna$730
6Bemidji$800
7Waseca$830
8Duluth$848
9Waite Park$890
10Saint Cloud$940
11Rochester$1,010
12Mankato$1,030
13Anoka$1,050
14Buffalo$1,060
15Northfield$1,060

Most expensive cities for a studio in Minnesota

#CityStudio rent
1Woodbury$1,650
2Maple Grove$1,600
3Eden Prairie$1,570
4Lakeville$1,550
5Cottage Grove$1,540
6Edina$1,520
7Blaine$1,510
8Plymouth$1,495
9Brooklyn Park$1,495
10Savage$1,470
11Rosemount$1,470
12Minnetonka$1,450
13Robbinsdale$1,427
14Saint Louis Park$1,385
15Vadnais Heights$1,380

Nearby cities — studio rent

Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than Albert Lea.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Albert Lea
Austin, MN23.2 mi$720+$80 (+13%)
Owatonna, MN28.3 mi$730+$90 (+14%)
Waseca, MN30.6 mi$830+$190 (+30%)
Mankato, MN55.5 mi$1,030+$390 (+61%)
Northfield, MN56.8 mi$1,060+$420 (+66%)
Rochester, MN65 mi$1,010+$370 (+58%)
Lakeville, MN67.8 mi$1,550+$910 (+142%)
Prior Lake, MN70.8 mi$1,240+$600 (+94%)
Apple Valley, MN75 mi$1,380+$740 (+116%)
Burnsville, MN75.5 mi$1,330+$690 (+108%)
Savage, MN75.7 mi$1,470+$830 (+130%)
Rosemount, MN76.3 mi$1,470+$830 (+130%)

Studio rent in Albert Lea — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Albert Lea?

As of March 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Albert Lea, Minnesota is $640 per month. This is +34% below the citywide median of $963.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Albert Lea?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $25,600 ($2,133/month gross), which works out to roughly $12.31/hour at a full-time job.

Is Albert Lea expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Albert Lea's studio median of $640 is +50% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 1th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Albert Lea rank for studio rent in Minnesota?

Among the 66 cities in Minnesota with studio data, Albert Lea ranks #1 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Albert Lea?

Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than Albert Lea.

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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Albert Lea, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (March 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.