Dodge Center, MN vs Winnebago, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Winnebago, IL has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% higher than Dodge Center, MN.

Dodge Center, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,210 / month
Winnebago, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,240 / 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 Winnebago, IL 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: $299/month in Winnebago, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,584 in Winnebago, IL

Regional cost estimates: Dodge Center, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Winnebago, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 4.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$299
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.6K
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.

Dodge Center, MN

Population:3K
Cost Index:
88.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$280K

Winnebago, IL

Population:3K
Cost Index:
92.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$266K

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Dodge Center, MN

The North Star State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Winnebago, IL

The Prairie State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dodge Center, MN vs Winnebago, IL

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
↑ 6.3%
Dodge Center, MN
$2,271
Winnebago, IL
$2,414
Difference
$143
more
Other
↑ 8.4%
Dodge Center, MN
$1,610
Winnebago, IL
$1,744
Difference
$135
more
Transportation
↑ 6.4%
Dodge Center, MN
$1,288
Winnebago, IL
$1,370
Difference
$82.12
more
Groceries
↓ 4.8%
Dodge Center, MN
$1,046
Winnebago, IL
$996
Difference
$50.31
less
Healthcare
↓ 2.9%
Dodge Center, MN
$768
Winnebago, IL
$746
Difference
$22.21
less
All Utilities
↑ 2.1%
Dodge Center, MN
$517
Winnebago, IL
$528
Difference
$11.01
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$900
To$850
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$1,000
To$950
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,210
To$1,240
↑ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,700
To$1,640
↓ $60.00
Dodge Center, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/mo

Winnebago, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $950–$950/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
$7,799
Monthly in Winnebago, IL
$299
Difference

Home Values

Dodge Center
Winnebago
$280K
Median Value
$266K
↑ +4.2%
YoY Change
↑ +6.6%
↑ +36.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +52.3%

Homes in Winnebago are 5% less expensive than Dodge Center

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$251
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
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

Winnebago, IL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Illinois State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,797/month
$105.6K

Additional Tax Information

Dodge Center, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Winnebago, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

💡 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
Winnebago
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 Dodge Center, MN to Winnebago, IL

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Winnebago, IL 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.
  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 Dodge Center to Winnebago moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Dodge Center, MN vs Winnebago, IL

How do the cost estimates for Dodge Center, MN and Winnebago, IL compare?

Winnebago, IL has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% higher 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 $153,584 in Winnebago, IL. 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 Winnebago, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,210/month in Dodge Center, MN and $1,240/month in Winnebago, IL. 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 Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

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