Baraboo, WI vs Fort Atkinson, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fort Atkinson, WI has a modeled overall cost index 0.2% higher than Baraboo, WI.

Baraboo, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,100 / month
Fort Atkinson, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,160 / 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 Baraboo, WI and Fort Atkinson, WI 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

Current salary in Baraboo, WI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $14.20/month in Fort Atkinson, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,170 in Fort Atkinson, WI

Regional cost estimates: Baraboo, WI uses Madison, WI. Fort Atkinson, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 0.2%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$14.20

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$170

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.

Baraboo, WI

Population:13K

Cost Index:

97.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$295K

Fort Atkinson, WI

Population:12K

Cost Index:

97.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$309K

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Baraboo, WI

The Badger State

13K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 13K residents.

Fort Atkinson, WI

The Badger State

12K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 12K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Baraboo, WI vs Fort Atkinson, WI

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.

Category	Baraboo, WI	Fort Atkinson, WI	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,340/mo	$2,345/mo	↑ $5.17more	0.2%
Other	$1,690/mo	$1,694/mo	↑ $3.73more	0.2%
Transportation	$1,328/mo	$1,331/mo	↑ $2.93more	0.2%
Groceries	$940/mo	$941/mo	↑ $1.04more	0.1%
Healthcare	$704/mo	$705/mo	↑ $0.78more	0.1%
All Utilities	$498/mo	$498/mo	↑ $0.55more	0.1%

Housing

↑ 0.2%

Baraboo, WI

$2,340

Fort Atkinson, WI

$2,345

Difference

$5.17

Other

↑ 0.2%

Baraboo, WI

$1,690

Fort Atkinson, WI

$1,694

Difference

$3.73

Transportation

↑ 0.2%

Baraboo, WI

$1,328

Fort Atkinson, WI

$1,331

Difference

$2.93

Groceries

↑ 0.1%

Baraboo, WI

$940

Fort Atkinson, WI

$941

Difference

$1.04

Healthcare

↑ 0.1%

Baraboo, WI

$704

Fort Atkinson, WI

$705

Difference

$0.78

All Utilities

↑ 0.1%

Baraboo, WI

$498

Fort Atkinson, WI

$498

Difference

$0.55

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$800

To$800

→ $0

1 Bed

From$940

To$920

↓ $20.00

2 Bed

From$1,100

To$1,160

↑ $60.00

3 Bed

From$1,390

To$1,540

↑ $150

Baraboo, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $940–$940/mo

Fort Atkinson, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$920/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 Baraboo, WI

$7,514

Monthly in Fort Atkinson, WI

$14.20

Difference

Home Values

Baraboo

Fort Atkinson

$295K

Median Value

$309K

↑ +2.7%

YoY Change

↑ +5%

↑ +32.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +36.3%

Homes in Fort Atkinson are 5% more expensive than Baraboo

Calculate payment - Baraboo Calculate payment - Fort Atkinson

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Baraboo, WI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Wisconsin State Tax

Effective: 5.9%

$8.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.6%

$45.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,678/month

$104.1K

Fort Atkinson, WI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Wisconsin State Tax

Effective: 5.9%

$8.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.6%

$45.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,678/month

$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Baraboo, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

Fort Atkinson, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Baraboo

Fort Atkinson

42 Good

Air Quality

42 Good

72.1%

Good Air Days

72.1%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Baraboo, WI to Fort Atkinson, WI

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fort Atkinson, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Baraboo, WI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Baraboo to Fort Atkinson moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Fort Atkinson, WI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Baraboo, WI vs Fort Atkinson, WI

How do the cost estimates for Baraboo, WI and Fort Atkinson, WI compare?

Fort Atkinson, WI has a modeled overall cost index 0.2% higher than Baraboo, WI. 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 Baraboo, WI, the model estimates $150,170 in Fort Atkinson, WI. 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 Baraboo, WI and Fort Atkinson, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,100/month in Baraboo, WI and $1,160/month in Fort Atkinson, WI. 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.