Byron, MN vs West Salem, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Salem, WI has a modeled overall cost index 2.4% lower than Byron, MN.

Byron, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,210 / month
West Salem, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,310 / 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 Byron, MN and West Salem, 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 Byron, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $130/month in West Salem, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,437 in West Salem, WI

Regional cost estimates: Byron, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. West Salem, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 2.4%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$130

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.6K

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.

Byron, MN

Population:7K

Cost Index:

90.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$383K

West Salem, WI

Population:5K

Cost Index:

88.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$362K

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Byron, MN

The North Star State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 7K residents.

West Salem, WI

The Badger State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Byron, MN vs West Salem, 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	Byron, MN	West Salem, WI	Difference	Change
Groceries	$1,039/mo	$957/mo	↓ $82.32less	7.9%
Healthcare	$763/mo	$717/mo	↓ $46.30less	6.1%
Other	$1,615/mo	$1,637/mo	↑ $22.48more	1.4%
Housing	$2,278/mo	$2,266/mo	↓ $11.87less	0.5%
All Utilities	$513/mo	$507/mo	↓ $6.19less	1.2%
Transportation	$1,292/mo	$1,286/mo	↓ $6.01less	0.5%

Groceries

↓ 7.9%

Byron, MN

$1,039

West Salem, WI

$957

Difference

$82.32

less

Healthcare

↓ 6.1%

Byron, MN

$763

West Salem, WI

$717

Difference

$46.30

less

Other

↑ 1.4%

Byron, MN

$1,615

West Salem, WI

$1,637

Difference

$22.48

Housing

↓ 0.5%

Byron, MN

$2,278

West Salem, WI

$2,266

Difference

$11.87

less

All Utilities

↓ 1.2%

Byron, MN

$513

West Salem, WI

$507

Difference

$6.19

less

Transportation

↓ 0.5%

Byron, MN

$1,292

West Salem, WI

$1,286

Difference

$6.01

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$950

To$900

↓ $50.00

1 Bed

From$1,010

To$1,000

↓ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,210

To$1,310

↑ $100

3 Bed

From$1,700

To$1,700

→ $0

Byron, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,010–$1,010/mo

West Salem, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/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 Byron, MN

$7,370

Monthly in West Salem, WI

$130

Difference

Home Values

Byron

West Salem

$383K

Median Value

$362K

↑ +3.1%

YoY Change

↑ +4%

↑ +25.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +33.7%

Homes in West Salem are 6% less expensive than Byron

Calculate payment - Byron Calculate payment - West Salem

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$132

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.1%

Rate difference

Byron, 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

West Salem, 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

Byron, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

West Salem, 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

Byron

West Salem

36 Good

Air Quality

42 Good

72.4%

Good Air Days

72.1%

95 High

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Byron, MN to West Salem, WI

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Salem, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Byron, MN. 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 Byron to West Salem moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Byron, MN vs West Salem, WI

How do the cost estimates for Byron, MN and West Salem, WI compare?

West Salem, WI has a modeled overall cost index 2.4% lower than Byron, 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 Byron, MN, the model estimates $148,437 in West Salem, 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 Byron, MN and West Salem, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,210/month in Byron, MN and $1,310/month in West Salem, 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.

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

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