Blue Earth, MN vs Carey, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Carey, OH has a modeled overall cost index 8.6% lower than Blue Earth, MN.

Blue Earth, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month
Carey, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,050 / 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 Blue Earth, MN and Carey, OH 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $565/month in Carey, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,218 in Carey, OH

Regional cost estimates: Blue Earth, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Carey, OH uses Columbus, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 8.6%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$565
Savings
Annual Impact
$6.8K
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.

Blue Earth, MN

Population:3K
Cost Index:
84.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$172K

Carey, OH

Population:3K
Cost Index:
77.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$176K

Planning the move to Carey?

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Blue Earth, MN

The North Star State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Carey, OH

The Buckeye State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Blue Earth, MN vs Carey, OH

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
↓ 19.8%
Blue Earth, MN
$2,289
Carey, OH
$1,836
Difference
$452
less
Healthcare
↓ 15.9%
Blue Earth, MN
$776
Carey, OH
$652
Difference
$123
less
Transportation
↑ 8.6%
Blue Earth, MN
$1,250
Carey, OH
$1,358
Difference
$108
more
Other
↓ 3.8%
Blue Earth, MN
$1,608
Carey, OH
$1,547
Difference
$60.52
less
All Utilities
↓ 4.3%
Blue Earth, MN
$521
Carey, OH
$499
Difference
$22.30
less
Groceries
↓ 1.4%
Blue Earth, MN
$1,056
Carey, OH
$1,042
Difference
$14.45
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$690
To$800
↑ $110
1 Bed
From$810
To$860
↑ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,000
To$1,050
↑ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,350
To$1,340
↓ $10.00
Blue Earth, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$810/mo

Carey, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/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 Blue Earth, MN
$6,935
Monthly in Carey, OH
$565
Difference

Home Values

Blue Earth
Carey
$172K
Median Value
$176K
↑ +6.4%
YoY Change
↑ +4.8%
↑ +46.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +39.3%

Homes in Carey are 2% more expensive than Blue Earth

Calculate payment - Blue EarthCalculate payment - Carey

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $6.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$500
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.0%
Rate difference

Blue Earth, 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

Carey, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Blue Earth, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Carey, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 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

Blue Earth
Carey
42 Good
Air Quality
53 Moderate
66.4%
Good Air Days
41.3%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Blue Earth, MN to Carey, OH

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Carey, OH for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Blue Earth, 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 Blue Earth to Carey moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Blue Earth, MN vs Carey, OH

How do the cost estimates for Blue Earth, MN and Carey, OH compare?

Carey, OH has a modeled overall cost index 8.6% lower than Blue Earth, 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 Blue Earth, MN, the model estimates $143,218 in Carey, OH. 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 Blue Earth, MN and Carey, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,000/month in Blue Earth, MN and $1,050/month in Carey, OH. 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 Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

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