Ham Lake, MN vs White Bear Lake, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

White Bear Lake, MN has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% lower than Ham Lake, MN.

Ham Lake, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $2,080 / month
White Bear Lake, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,985 / 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 ↓

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Ham Lake, MN and White Bear 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 Ham Lake, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $36.27/month in White Bear Lake, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,565 in White Bear Lake, MN

Regional cost estimates: Ham Lake, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. White Bear Lake, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$36.27

Savings

Annual Impact

$435

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.

Ham Lake, MN

Population:17K

Cost Index:

100.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$440K

White Bear Lake, MN

Population:23K

Cost Index:

99.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$423K

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Ham Lake, MN

The North Star State

17K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

White Bear Lake, MN

The North Star State

23K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 23K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ham Lake, MN vs White Bear 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	Ham Lake, MN	White Bear Lake, MN	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,351/mo	$2,299/mo	↓ $51.77less	2.2%
Other	$1,651/mo	$1,630/mo	↓ $21.72less	1.3%
Transportation	$1,284/mo	$1,304/mo	↑ $20.02more	1.6%
Groceries	$994/mo	$1,001/mo	↑ $7.72more	0.8%
Healthcare	$730/mo	$735/mo	↑ $5.67more	0.8%
All Utilities	$491/mo	$494/mo	↑ $3.81more	0.8%

Housing

↓ 2.2%

Ham Lake, MN

$2,351

White Bear Lake, MN

$2,299

Difference

$51.77

less

Other

↓ 1.3%

Ham Lake, MN

$1,651

White Bear Lake, MN

$1,630

Difference

$21.72

less

Transportation

↑ 1.6%

Ham Lake, MN

$1,284

White Bear Lake, MN

$1,304

Difference

$20.02

Groceries

↑ 0.8%

Ham Lake, MN

$994

White Bear Lake, MN

$1,001

Difference

$7.72

Healthcare

↑ 0.8%

Ham Lake, MN

$730

White Bear Lake, MN

$735

Difference

$5.67

All Utilities

↑ 0.8%

Ham Lake, MN

$491

White Bear Lake, MN

$494

Difference

$3.81

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,510

To$1,440

↓ $70.00

1 Bed

From$1,710

To$1,635

↓ $75.00

2 Bed

From$2,080

To$1,985

↓ $95.00

3 Bed

From$2,750

To$2,630

↓ $120

Ham Lake, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,710–$1,710/mo

White Bear Lake, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,500–$1,770/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 Ham Lake, MN

$7,464

Monthly in White Bear Lake, MN

$36.27

Difference

Home Values

Ham Lake

White Bear Lake

$440K

Median Value

$423K

↑ +2.7%

YoY Change

↑ +1.6%

↑ +25.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +22%

$440K

Price Range

$364K - $483K

Homes in White Bear Lake are 4% less expensive than Ham Lake

Calculate payment - Ham Lake Calculate payment - White Bear 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

Ham 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

White Bear 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

Ham Lake, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

White Bear 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

Ham Lake

White Bear Lake

42 Good

Air Quality

36 Good

66.4%

Good Air Days

72.4%

98 High

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.7°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.7°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

Before moving from Ham Lake, MN to White Bear 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 White Bear Lake, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Ham Lake, 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 Ham Lake to White Bear Lake moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Ham Lake, MN vs White Bear Lake, MN

How do the cost estimates for Ham Lake, MN and White Bear Lake, MN compare?

White Bear Lake, MN has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% lower than Ham Lake, 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 Ham Lake, MN, the model estimates $149,565 in White Bear 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 Ham Lake, MN and White Bear Lake, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,080/month in Ham Lake, MN and $1,985/month in White Bear 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.