Clayton, MO vs Lake Elmo, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lake Elmo, MN has a modeled overall cost index 20.0% higher than Clayton, MO.

Clayton, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,730 / month
Lake Elmo, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,770 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Clayton, MO and Lake Elmo, MN 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 extra cost: $1,458/month in Lake Elmo, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $167,500 in Lake Elmo, MN

Regional cost estimates: Clayton, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Lake Elmo, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 20.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,458
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$17.5K
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.

Clayton, MO

Population:17K
Cost Index:
81.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$762K

Lake Elmo, MN

Population:14K
Cost Index:
97.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$604K

Planning the move to Lake Elmo?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Clayton, MO

The Show-Me State

17K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 17K residents.

Lake Elmo, MN

The North Star State

14K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Clayton, MO vs Lake Elmo, MN

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
↑ 43.6%
Clayton, MO
$1,918
Lake Elmo, MN
$2,754
Difference
$836
more
Healthcare
↑ 43.1%
Clayton, MO
$619
Lake Elmo, MN
$886
Difference
$267
more
Transportation
↑ 12.8%
Clayton, MO
$1,385
Lake Elmo, MN
$1,562
Difference
$177
more
Other
↑ 6.6%
Clayton, MO
$1,831
Lake Elmo, MN
$1,952
Difference
$122
more
Groceries
↑ 8.1%
Clayton, MO
$1,117
Lake Elmo, MN
$1,207
Difference
$90.38
more
All Utilities
↓ 5.4%
Clayton, MO
$630
Lake Elmo, MN
$596
Difference
$33.93
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,360
To$1,290
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$1,410
To$1,460
↑ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,730
To$1,770
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$2,230
To$2,350
↑ $120
Clayton, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,410–$1,410/mo

Lake Elmo, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,460–$1,460/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 Clayton, MO
$8,958
Monthly in Lake Elmo, MN
$1,458
Difference

Home Values

Clayton
Lake Elmo
$762K
Median Value
$604K
↑ +3.7%
YoY Change
↑ +1.6%
↑ +22.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +24.6%

Homes in Lake Elmo are 21% less expensive than Clayton

Calculate payment - ClaytonCalculate payment - Lake Elmo

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.5K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$209
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.7%
Rate difference

Clayton, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Lake Elmo, 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

Additional Tax Information

Clayton, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Lake Elmo, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 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

Clayton
Lake Elmo
54 Moderate
Air Quality
36 Good
38%
Good Air Days
72.4%
99 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Clayton, MO to Lake Elmo, MN

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

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

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Lake Elmo, MN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Clayton, MO vs Lake Elmo, MN

How do the cost estimates for Clayton, MO and Lake Elmo, MN compare?

Lake Elmo, MN has a modeled overall cost index 20.0% higher than Clayton, MO. 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 Clayton, MO, the model estimates $167,500 in Lake Elmo, MN. 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 Clayton, MO and Lake Elmo, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,730/month in Clayton, MO and $1,770/month in Lake Elmo, MN. 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 Missouri and Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Lake Elmo, MN

Other cities in a similar price range

Austin, TXDenver, CONashville, TN

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison