Hartland, WI vs Lake Elmo, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lake Elmo, MN has a modeled overall cost index 18.0% higher than Hartland, WI.

Hartland, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,370 / month
Lake Elmo, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,770 / 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 Hartland, WI and Lake Elmo, 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: $1,124/month in Lake Elmo, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $163,491 in Lake Elmo, MN

Regional cost estimates: Hartland, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Lake Elmo, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 18.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,124
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$13.5K
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.

Hartland, WI

Population:10K
Cost Index:
83.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$636K

Lake Elmo, MN

Population:14K
Cost Index:
97.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$604K

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Hartland, WI

The Badger State

10K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Lake Elmo, MN

The North Star State

14K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Hartland, WI vs Lake Elmo, 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
↑ 43.7%
Hartland, WI
$1,845
Lake Elmo, MN
$2,652
Difference
$806
more
Other
↑ 9.7%
Hartland, WI
$1,714
Lake Elmo, MN
$1,880
Difference
$166
more
Groceries
↑ 8.5%
Hartland, WI
$1,071
Lake Elmo, MN
$1,162
Difference
$90.89
more
Healthcare
↑ 6.3%
Hartland, WI
$802
Lake Elmo, MN
$853
Difference
$50.90
more
All Utilities
↑ 1.1%
Hartland, WI
$567
Lake Elmo, MN
$574
Difference
$6.32
more
Transportation
↑ 0.3%
Hartland, WI
$1,500
Lake Elmo, MN
$1,504
Difference
$3.80
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,050
To$1,290
↑ $240
1 Bed
From$1,150
To$1,460
↑ $310
2 Bed
From$1,370
To$1,770
↑ $400
3 Bed
From$1,690
To$2,350
↑ $660
Hartland, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,150–$1,150/mo

Lake Elmo, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,460–$1,460/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 Hartland, WI
$8,624
Monthly in Lake Elmo, MN
$1,124
Difference

Home Values

Hartland
Lake Elmo
$636K
Median Value
$604K
↑ +5.6%
YoY Change
↑ +1.6%
↑ +35%
5-Year Change
↑ +24.6%

Homes in Lake Elmo are 5% less expensive than Hartland

Calculate payment - HartlandCalculate payment - Lake Elmo

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.6K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$132
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.1%
Rate difference

Hartland, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Lake Elmo, 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

Hartland, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Lake Elmo, 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

Hartland
Lake Elmo
43 Good
Air Quality
36 Good
68.6%
Good Air Days
72.4%
98 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Hartland, WI vs Lake Elmo, MN

How do the cost estimates for Hartland, WI and Lake Elmo, MN compare?

Lake Elmo, MN has a modeled overall cost index 18.0% higher than Hartland, WI. 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 Hartland, WI, the model estimates $163,491 in Lake Elmo, 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 Hartland, WI and Lake Elmo, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,370/month in Hartland, WI and $1,770/month in Lake Elmo, 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 Wisconsin and Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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