Big Lake, MN vs Huntertown, IN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Huntertown, IN has a modeled overall cost index 8.3% lower than Big Lake, MN.

Big Lake, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,780 / month
Huntertown, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,670 / 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 Big Lake, MN and Huntertown, IN 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: $629/month in Huntertown, IN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,447 in Huntertown, IN

Regional cost estimates: Big Lake, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Huntertown, IN uses Fort Wayne, IN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 8.3%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$629
Savings
Annual Impact
$7.6K
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.

Big Lake, MN

Population:13K
Cost Index:
84.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$360K

Huntertown, IN

Population:11K
Cost Index:
77.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$337K

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Big Lake, MN

The North Star State

13K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Huntertown, IN

The Hoosier State

11K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Big Lake, MN vs Huntertown, IN

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
↓ 21.9%
Big Lake, MN
$2,253
Huntertown, IN
$1,760
Difference
$494
less
Healthcare
↓ 17.0%
Big Lake, MN
$782
Huntertown, IN
$649
Difference
$133
less
Groceries
↓ 3.8%
Big Lake, MN
$1,064
Huntertown, IN
$1,024
Difference
$40.35
less
All Utilities
↑ 6.6%
Big Lake, MN
$525
Huntertown, IN
$560
Difference
$34.44
more
Other
↑ 0.2%
Big Lake, MN
$1,597
Huntertown, IN
$1,601
Difference
$3.98
more
Transportation
↓ 0.1%
Big Lake, MN
$1,278
Huntertown, IN
$1,277
Difference
$0.80
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,290
To$1,330
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$1,460
To$1,370
↓ $90.00
2 Bed
From$1,780
To$1,670
↓ $110
3 Bed
From$2,360
To$2,070
↓ $290
Big Lake, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,460–$1,460/mo

Huntertown, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,370–$1,370/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 Big Lake, MN
$6,871
Monthly in Huntertown, IN
$629
Difference

Home Values

Big Lake
Huntertown
$360K
Median Value
$337K
↑ +1.6%
YoY Change
↑ +2.5%
↑ +25.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +36.2%

Homes in Huntertown are 6% less expensive than Big Lake

Calculate payment - Big LakeCalculate payment - Huntertown

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $5.6K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$466
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.7%
Rate difference

Big Lake, 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

Huntertown, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Additional Tax Information

Big Lake, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Huntertown, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

💡 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

Big Lake
Huntertown
36 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
72.4%
Good Air Days
62.6%
95 High
Climate Risk
91 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days
▲+3.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days

Before moving from Big Lake, MN to Huntertown, IN

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Huntertown, IN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Big Lake, 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 Big Lake to Huntertown moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Big Lake, MN vs Huntertown, IN

How do the cost estimates for Big Lake, MN and Huntertown, IN compare?

Huntertown, IN has a modeled overall cost index 8.3% lower than Big Lake, 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 Big Lake, MN, the model estimates $142,447 in Huntertown, IN. 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 Big Lake, MN and Huntertown, IN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,780/month in Big Lake, MN and $1,670/month in Huntertown, IN. 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 Indiana on TaxTakeHome.com

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