Dodge City, KS vs Austin, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Austin, MN has a modeled overall cost index 17.6% higher than Dodge City, KS.

Dodge City, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / month
Austin, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / 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 City, KS and Austin, 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: $1,234/month in Austin, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,808 in Austin, MN

Regional cost estimates: Dodge City, KS uses Wichita, KS. Austin, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 17.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,234
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$14.8K
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 City, KS

Population:28K
Cost Index:
78.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$201K

Austin, MN

Population:26K
Cost Index:
92.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$181K

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Dodge City, KS

The Sunflower State

28K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 28K residents.

Austin, MN

The North Star State

26K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dodge City, KS vs Austin, 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
↑ 41.1%
Dodge City, KS
$1,887
Austin, MN
$2,664
Difference
$776
more
Healthcare
↑ 27.4%
Dodge City, KS
$691
Austin, MN
$881
Difference
$189
more
Transportation
↑ 10.6%
Dodge City, KS
$1,366
Austin, MN
$1,511
Difference
$145
more
Groceries
↑ 13.6%
Dodge City, KS
$1,055
Austin, MN
$1,199
Difference
$144
more
All Utilities
↓ 6.8%
Dodge City, KS
$635
Austin, MN
$592
Difference
$43.52
less
Other
↑ 1.3%
Dodge City, KS
$1,865
Austin, MN
$1,888
Difference
$23.65
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$740
↑ $60.00
1 Bed
From$750
To$820
↑ $70.00
2 Bed
From$980
To$1,070
↑ $90.00
3 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,380
↑ $110
Dodge City, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/mo

Austin, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$820/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 City, KS
$8,734
Monthly in Austin, MN
$1,234
Difference

Home Values

Dodge City
Austin
$201K
Median Value
$181K
↑ +0.3%
YoY Change
↑ +5.3%
↑ +55.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +41.6%

Homes in Austin are 10% less expensive than Dodge City

Calculate payment - Dodge CityCalculate payment - Austin

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.0K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$168
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.3%
Rate difference

Dodge City, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Austin, 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 City, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

Austin, 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 City
Austin
43 Good
Air Quality
36 Good
75.1%
Good Air Days
72.4%
97 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Dodge City, KS to Austin, 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 Austin, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dodge City, KS. 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 City to Austin moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Dodge City, KS vs Austin, MN

How do the cost estimates for Dodge City, KS and Austin, MN compare?

Austin, MN has a modeled overall cost index 17.6% higher than Dodge City, KS. 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 City, KS, the model estimates $164,808 in Austin, 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 City, KS and Austin, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Dodge City, KS and $1,070/month in Austin, 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 Kansas and Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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