Emporia, KS vs Albert Lea, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Albert Lea, MN has a modeled overall cost index 12.8% higher than Emporia, KS.

Emporia, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$890 / month
Albert Lea, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / 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 Emporia, KS and Albert Lea, 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

$
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Estimated extra cost: $881/month in Albert Lea, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $160,568 in Albert Lea, MN

Regional cost estimates: Emporia, KS uses Wichita, KS. Albert Lea, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 12.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$881
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$10.6K
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.

Emporia, KS

Population:24K
Cost Index:
81.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$167K

Albert Lea, MN

Population:18K
Cost Index:
91.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$171K

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Emporia, KS

The Sunflower State

24K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Albert Lea, MN

The North Star State

18K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Emporia, KS vs Albert Lea, 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
↑ 36.7%
Emporia, KS
$1,896
Albert Lea, MN
$2,591
Difference
$695
more
Healthcare
↑ 23.0%
Emporia, KS
$685
Albert Lea, MN
$842
Difference
$158
more
Groceries
↑ 9.7%
Emporia, KS
$1,045
Albert Lea, MN
$1,147
Difference
$101
more
All Utilities
↓ 10.0%
Emporia, KS
$629
Albert Lea, MN
$566
Difference
$63.26
less
Other
↓ 2.8%
Emporia, KS
$1,873
Albert Lea, MN
$1,820
Difference
$52.83
less
Transportation
↑ 3.1%
Emporia, KS
$1,372
Albert Lea, MN
$1,415
Difference
$42.78
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$630
To$670
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$680
To$740
↑ $60.00
2 Bed
From$890
To$970
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,160
To$1,280
↑ $120
Emporia, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $680–$680/mo

Albert Lea, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/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 Emporia, KS
$8,381
Monthly in Albert Lea, MN
$881
Difference

Home Values

Emporia
Albert Lea
$167K
Median Value
$171K
↑ +1.7%
YoY Change
↑ +3.5%
↑ +33.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +35.5%

Homes in Albert Lea are 3% more expensive than Emporia

Calculate payment - EmporiaCalculate payment - Albert Lea

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

Emporia, 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

Albert Lea, 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

Emporia, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

Albert Lea, 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

Emporia
Albert Lea
43 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
75.1%
Good Air Days
66.4%
97 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Emporia, KS vs Albert Lea, MN

How do the cost estimates for Emporia, KS and Albert Lea, MN compare?

Albert Lea, MN has a modeled overall cost index 12.8% higher than Emporia, 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 Emporia, KS, the model estimates $160,568 in Albert Lea, 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 Emporia, KS and Albert Lea, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $890/month in Emporia, KS and $970/month in Albert Lea, 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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