Lake Crystal, MN vs Buckeye Lake, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Buckeye Lake, OH has a modeled overall cost index 9.0% lower than Lake Crystal, MN.

Lake Crystal, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,060 / month
Buckeye Lake, OH · 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Lake Crystal, MN and Buckeye Lake, OH 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 savings: $591/month in Buckeye Lake, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,911 in Buckeye Lake, OH

Regional cost estimates: Lake Crystal, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Buckeye Lake, OH uses Columbus, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 9.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$591
Savings
Annual Impact
$7.1K
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.

Lake Crystal, MN

Population:3K
Cost Index:
86.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$274K

Buckeye Lake, OH

Population:3K
Cost Index:
78.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$276K

Planning the move to Buckeye Lake?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Lake Crystal, MN

The North Star State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Buckeye Lake, OH

The Buckeye State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lake Crystal, MN vs Buckeye Lake, OH

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
↓ 20.1%
Lake Crystal, MN
$2,298
Buckeye Lake, OH
$1,836
Difference
$462
less
Healthcare
↓ 16.1%
Lake Crystal, MN
$769
Buckeye Lake, OH
$645
Difference
$123
less
Transportation
↑ 8.1%
Lake Crystal, MN
$1,255
Buckeye Lake, OH
$1,357
Difference
$102
more
Other
↓ 4.2%
Lake Crystal, MN
$1,614
Buckeye Lake, OH
$1,547
Difference
$67.50
less
All Utilities
↓ 4.5%
Lake Crystal, MN
$517
Buckeye Lake, OH
$494
Difference
$23.18
less
Groceries
↓ 1.6%
Lake Crystal, MN
$1,047
Buckeye Lake, OH
$1,030
Difference
$16.57
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$870
To$800
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$880
To$870
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$1,060
To$1,070
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,490
To$1,280
↓ $210
Lake Crystal, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/mo

Buckeye Lake, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$870/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 Lake Crystal, MN
$6,909
Monthly in Buckeye Lake, OH
$591
Difference

Home Values

Lake Crystal
Buckeye Lake
$274K
Median Value
$276K
↑ +7.4%
YoY Change
↑ +7.5%
↑ +42.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +48.1%

Homes in Buckeye Lake are 1% more expensive than Lake Crystal

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $6.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$500
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.0%
Rate difference

Lake Crystal, 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

Buckeye Lake, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Lake Crystal, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Buckeye Lake, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 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

Lake Crystal
Buckeye Lake
42 Good
Air Quality
53 Moderate
66.4%
Good Air Days
41.3%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Lake Crystal, MN to Buckeye Lake, OH

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Buckeye Lake, OH for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lake Crystal, 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 Lake Crystal to Buckeye Lake moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lake Crystal, MN vs Buckeye Lake, OH

How do the cost estimates for Lake Crystal, MN and Buckeye Lake, OH compare?

Buckeye Lake, OH has a modeled overall cost index 9.0% lower than Lake Crystal, 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 Lake Crystal, MN, the model estimates $142,911 in Buckeye Lake, OH. 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 Lake Crystal, MN and Buckeye Lake, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,060/month in Lake Crystal, MN and $1,070/month in Buckeye Lake, OH. 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 Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Buckeye Lake, OH

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison