Lake Geneva, WI vs Lake Mills, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lake Mills, WI has a modeled overall cost index 14.9% higher than Lake Geneva, WI.

Lake Geneva, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,320 / month
Lake Mills, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,220 / 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 Geneva, WI and Lake Mills, WI 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: $968/month in Lake Mills, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $161,613 in Lake Mills, WI

Regional cost estimates: Lake Geneva, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Lake Mills, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 14.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$968
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$11.6K
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.

Lake Geneva, WI

Population:9K
Cost Index:
83.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$439K

Lake Mills, WI

Population:7K
Cost Index:
96.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$408K

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Lake Geneva, WI

The Badger State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Lake Mills, WI

The Badger State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lake Geneva, WI vs Lake Mills, WI

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
↑ 42.7%
Lake Geneva, WI
$1,849
Lake Mills, WI
$2,638
Difference
$789
more
Other
↑ 11.0%
Lake Geneva, WI
$1,717
Lake Mills, WI
$1,906
Difference
$189
more
Transportation
↓ 0.4%
Lake Geneva, WI
$1,503
Lake Mills, WI
$1,497
Difference
$5.87
less
Groceries
↓ 0.2%
Lake Geneva, WI
$1,067
Lake Mills, WI
$1,065
Difference
$2.09
less
Healthcare
↓ 0.2%
Lake Geneva, WI
$799
Lake Mills, WI
$798
Difference
$1.56
less
All Utilities
↓ 0.2%
Lake Geneva, WI
$565
Lake Mills, WI
$564
Difference
$1.11
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$910
To$840
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$1,010
To$970
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,220
↓ $100
3 Bed
From$1,660
To$1,610
↓ $50.00
Lake Geneva, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,010–$1,010/mo

Lake Mills, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$970/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 Geneva, WI
$8,468
Monthly in Lake Mills, WI
$968
Difference

Home Values

Lake Geneva
Lake Mills
$439K
Median Value
$408K
↑ +4.8%
YoY Change
↑ +3.3%
↑ +42.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +35.8%

Homes in Lake Mills are 7% less expensive than Lake Geneva

Calculate payment - Lake GenevaCalculate payment - Lake Mills

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 Geneva, 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 Mills, 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

Additional Tax Information

Lake Geneva, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Lake Mills, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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 Geneva
Lake Mills
43 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
68.6%
Good Air Days
72.1%
98 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Lake Geneva, WI to Lake Mills, WI

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 Mills, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lake Geneva, 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 Lake Geneva to Lake Mills moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lake Geneva, WI vs Lake Mills, WI

How do the cost estimates for Lake Geneva, WI and Lake Mills, WI compare?

Lake Mills, WI has a modeled overall cost index 14.9% higher than Lake Geneva, 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 Lake Geneva, WI, the model estimates $161,613 in Lake Mills, WI. 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 Geneva, WI and Lake Mills, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,320/month in Lake Geneva, WI and $1,220/month in Lake Mills, WI. 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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