Chippewa Falls, WI vs Box Elder, SD: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Box Elder, SD has a modeled overall cost index 21.0% lower than Chippewa Falls, WI.

Chippewa Falls, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,230 / month
Box Elder, SD · modeled 2BR rent: $1,400 / 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 Chippewa Falls, WI and Box Elder, SD 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 Chippewa Falls, WI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,239/month in Box Elder, SD

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $135,135 in Box Elder, SD

Regional cost estimates: Chippewa Falls, WI uses Saint Paul, MN. Box Elder, SD uses Denver, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 21.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,239

Savings

Annual Impact

$14.9K

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.

Chippewa Falls, WI

Population:15K

Cost Index:

93.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$323K

Box Elder, SD

Population:14K

Cost Index:

73.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$356K

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Chippewa Falls, WI

The Badger State

15K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Box Elder, SD

The Mount Rushmore State

14K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in South Dakota, this city has a population of 14K residents.

💡 Advantage: South Dakota has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Chippewa Falls, WI vs Box Elder, SD

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	Chippewa Falls, WI	Box Elder, SD	Difference	Change
Other	$1,622/mo	$1,259/mo	↓ $363less	22.4%
Transportation	$1,298/mo	$1,037/mo	↓ $261less	20.1%
Housing	$2,288/mo	$2,074/mo	↓ $214less	9.4%
Healthcare	$756/mo	$549/mo	↓ $207less	27.4%
Groceries	$1,029/mo	$893/mo	↓ $135less	13.2%
All Utilities	$508/mo	$451/mo	↓ $57.39less	11.3%

Other

↓ 22.4%

Chippewa Falls, WI

$1,622

Box Elder, SD

$1,259

Difference

$363

less

Transportation

↓ 20.1%

Chippewa Falls, WI

$1,298

Box Elder, SD

$1,037

Difference

$261

less

Housing

↓ 9.4%

Chippewa Falls, WI

$2,288

Box Elder, SD

$2,074

Difference

$214

less

Healthcare

↓ 27.4%

Chippewa Falls, WI

$756

Box Elder, SD

$549

Difference

$207

less

Groceries

↓ 13.2%

Chippewa Falls, WI

$1,029

Box Elder, SD

$893

Difference

$135

less

All Utilities

↓ 11.3%

Chippewa Falls, WI

$508

Box Elder, SD

$451

Difference

$57.39

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$970

To$960

↓ $10.00

1 Bed

From$1,000

To$1,070

↑ $70.00

2 Bed

From$1,230

To$1,400

↑ $170

3 Bed

From$1,650

To$1,860

↑ $210

Chippewa Falls, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/mo

Box Elder, SDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,070–$1,070/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 Chippewa Falls, WI

$6,261

Monthly in Box Elder, SD

$1,239

Difference

Home Values

Chippewa Falls

Box Elder

$323K

Median Value

$356K

↑ +3.1%

YoY Change

↑ +2.7%

↑ +40.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +42.1%

Homes in Box Elder are 10% more expensive than Chippewa Falls

Calculate payment - Chippewa Falls Calculate payment - Box Elder

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $8.8K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$737

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

5.9%

Rate difference

Chippewa Falls, 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

Box Elder, SD

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

South Dakota State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Chippewa Falls, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

Box Elder, SD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.4%

Property Tax:1.3%

💡 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

Chippewa Falls

Box Elder

36 Good

Air Quality

55 Moderate

72.4%

Good Air Days

35.2%

95 High

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

Before moving from Chippewa Falls, WI to Box Elder, SD

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Box Elder, SD for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Chippewa Falls, 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 Chippewa Falls to Box Elder moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Box Elder, SD by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Chippewa Falls, WI vs Box Elder, SD

How do the cost estimates for Chippewa Falls, WI and Box Elder, SD compare?

Box Elder, SD has a modeled overall cost index 21.0% lower than Chippewa Falls, 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 Chippewa Falls, WI, the model estimates $135,135 in Box Elder, SD. 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 Chippewa Falls, WI and Box Elder, SD?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,230/month in Chippewa Falls, WI and $1,400/month in Box Elder, SD. 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 Wisconsin and South Dakota on TaxTakeHome.com