Lake Crystal, MN vs Janesville, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Janesville, MN has a modeled overall cost index 3.7% higher than Lake Crystal, MN.

Lake Crystal, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,060 / month
Janesville, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,060 / 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 Lake Crystal, MN and Janesville, 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: $234/month in Janesville, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,803 in Janesville, MN

Regional cost estimates: Lake Crystal, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Janesville, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$234
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$2.8K
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.

Lake Crystal, MN

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

Janesville, MN

Population:2K
Cost Index:
89.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$272K

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Lake Crystal, MN

The North Star State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Janesville, MN

The North Star State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lake Crystal, MN vs Janesville, 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
↑ 3.7%
Lake Crystal, MN
$2,298
Janesville, MN
$2,383
Difference
$84.90
more
Other
↑ 3.7%
Lake Crystal, MN
$1,614
Janesville, MN
$1,674
Difference
$59.64
more
Transportation
↑ 3.7%
Lake Crystal, MN
$1,255
Janesville, MN
$1,302
Difference
$46.37
more
Groceries
↑ 1.8%
Lake Crystal, MN
$1,047
Janesville, MN
$1,066
Difference
$19.16
more
Healthcare
↑ 1.8%
Lake Crystal, MN
$769
Janesville, MN
$783
Difference
$14.07
more
All Utilities
↑ 1.8%
Lake Crystal, MN
$517
Janesville, MN
$526
Difference
$9.46
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$870
To$870
→ $0
1 Bed
From$880
To$880
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,060
To$1,060
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,490
To$1,490
→ $0
Lake Crystal, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/mo

Janesville, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/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
$7,734
Monthly in Janesville, MN
$234
Difference

Home Values

Lake Crystal
Janesville
$274K
Median Value
$272K
↑ +7.4%
YoY Change
↑ +5%
↑ +42.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +35.1%

Homes in Janesville are 1% less expensive than Lake Crystal

Calculate payment - Lake CrystalCalculate payment - Janesville

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
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
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

Janesville, 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

Lake Crystal, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Janesville, 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

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

Before moving from Lake Crystal, MN to Janesville, 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 Janesville, MN 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 Janesville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lake Crystal, MN vs Janesville, MN

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

Janesville, MN has a modeled overall cost index 3.7% higher 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 $152,803 in Janesville, 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 Lake Crystal, MN and Janesville, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,060/month in Lake Crystal, MN and $1,060/month in Janesville, 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.

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