Albert Lea, MN vs Kirksville, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Kirksville, MO has a modeled overall cost index 11.2% lower than Albert Lea, MN.

Albert Lea, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Kirksville, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$890 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Albert Lea, MN and Kirksville, MO using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
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Estimated savings: $763/month in Kirksville, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $140,840 in Kirksville, MO

Regional cost estimates: Albert Lea, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Kirksville, MO uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 11.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$763
Savings
Annual Impact
$9.2K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Albert Lea, MN

Population:18K
Cost Index:
91.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$171K

Kirksville, MO

Population:17K
Cost Index:
81.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$166K

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Albert Lea, MN

The North Star State

18K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Kirksville, MO

The Show-Me State

17K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 17K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Albert Lea, MN vs Kirksville, MO

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 21.1%
Albert Lea, MN
$2,318
Kirksville, MO
$1,829
Difference
$489
less
Groceries
↓ 8.8%
Albert Lea, MN
$1,026
Kirksville, MO
$936
Difference
$90.46
less
Other
↓ 3.5%
Albert Lea, MN
$1,629
Kirksville, MO
$1,571
Difference
$57.43
less
Healthcare
↓ 6.9%
Albert Lea, MN
$754
Kirksville, MO
$701
Difference
$52.32
less
Transportation
↓ 4.0%
Albert Lea, MN
$1,266
Kirksville, MO
$1,215
Difference
$50.95
less
All Utilities
↓ 4.6%
Albert Lea, MN
$507
Kirksville, MO
$484
Difference
$23.10
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$670
To$710
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$740
To$710
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$970
To$890
↓ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,240
↓ $40.00
Albert Lea, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/mo

Kirksville, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $710–$710/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Albert Lea, MN
$6,737
Monthly in Kirksville, MO
$763
Difference

Home Values

Albert Lea
Kirksville
$171K
Median Value
$166K
↑ +3.5%
YoY Change
↑ +4.3%
↑ +35.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +22.6%

Homes in Kirksville are 3% less expensive than Albert Lea

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.5K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$209
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.7%
Rate difference

Albert Lea, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Kirksville, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

Albert Lea, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Kirksville, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Albert Lea
Kirksville
42 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
66.4%
Good Air Days
67.5%
98 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Albert Lea, MN to Kirksville, MO

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Kirksville, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Albert Lea, MN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Albert Lea to Kirksville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Kirksville, MO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Albert Lea, MN vs Kirksville, MO

How do the cost estimates for Albert Lea, MN and Kirksville, MO compare?

Kirksville, MO has a modeled overall cost index 11.2% lower than Albert Lea, MN. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Albert Lea, MN, the model estimates $140,840 in Kirksville, MO. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Albert Lea, MN and Kirksville, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Albert Lea, MN and $890/month in Kirksville, MO. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Minnesota and Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

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