Dodge Center, MN vs Moose Lake, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Moose Lake, MN has a modeled overall cost index 5.3% lower than Dodge Center, MN.

Dodge Center, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,210 / month
Moose Lake, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,160 / 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 Dodge Center, MN and Moose Lake, 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

Current salary in Dodge Center, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $334/month in Moose Lake, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,997 in Moose Lake, MN

Regional cost estimates: Dodge Center, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Moose Lake, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 5.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$334

Savings

Annual Impact

$4.0K

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.

Dodge Center, MN

Population:3K

Cost Index:

88.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$280K

Moose Lake, MN

Population:3K

Cost Index:

83.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$272K

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Dodge Center, MN

The North Star State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Moose Lake, MN

The North Star State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dodge Center, MN vs Moose Lake, 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.

Category	Dodge Center, MN	Moose Lake, MN	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,271/mo	$2,152/mo	↓ $119less	5.3%
Other	$1,610/mo	$1,525/mo	↓ $84.56less	5.3%
Transportation	$1,288/mo	$1,220/mo	↓ $67.66less	5.3%
Groceries	$1,046/mo	$1,018/mo	↓ $27.85less	2.7%
Healthcare	$768/mo	$748/mo	↓ $20.45less	2.7%
All Utilities	$517/mo	$503/mo	↓ $13.75less	2.7%

Housing

↓ 5.3%

Dodge Center, MN

$2,271

Moose Lake, MN

$2,152

Difference

$119

less

Other

↓ 5.3%

Dodge Center, MN

$1,610

Moose Lake, MN

$1,525

Difference

$84.56

less

Transportation

↓ 5.3%

Dodge Center, MN

$1,288

Moose Lake, MN

$1,220

Difference

$67.66

less

Groceries

↓ 2.7%

Dodge Center, MN

$1,046

Moose Lake, MN

$1,018

Difference

$27.85

less

Healthcare

↓ 2.7%

Dodge Center, MN

$768

Moose Lake, MN

$748

Difference

$20.45

less

All Utilities

↓ 2.7%

Dodge Center, MN

$517

Moose Lake, MN

$503

Difference

$13.75

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$900

To$800

↓ $100

1 Bed

From$1,000

To$920

↓ $80.00

2 Bed

From$1,210

To$1,160

↓ $50.00

3 Bed

From$1,700

To$1,580

↓ $120

Dodge Center, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/mo

Moose Lake, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$920/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 Dodge Center, MN

$7,166

Monthly in Moose Lake, MN

$334

Difference

Home Values

Dodge Center

Moose Lake

$280K

Median Value

$272K

↑ +4.2%

YoY Change

↑ +6.8%

↑ +36.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +46.5%

Homes in Moose Lake are 3% less expensive than Dodge Center

Calculate payment - Dodge Center Calculate payment - Moose Lake

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Dodge Center, 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

Moose 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

Additional Tax Information

Dodge Center, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

Moose Lake, 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

Dodge Center

Moose Lake

36 Good

Air Quality

36 Good

72.4%

Good Air Days

72.4%

95 High

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.7°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.7°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

Before moving from Dodge Center, MN to Moose Lake, MN

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Dodge Center, MN vs Moose Lake, MN

How do the cost estimates for Dodge Center, MN and Moose Lake, MN compare?

Moose Lake, MN has a modeled overall cost index 5.3% lower than Dodge Center, 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 Dodge Center, MN, the model estimates $145,997 in Moose Lake, 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 Dodge Center, MN and Moose Lake, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,210/month in Dodge Center, MN and $1,160/month in Moose Lake, 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.

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