Mauston, WI vs Sleepy Eye, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Sleepy Eye, MN has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower than Mauston, WI.

Mauston, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Sleepy Eye, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / 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 Mauston, WI and Sleepy Eye, 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 savings: $329/month in Sleepy Eye, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,053 in Sleepy Eye, MN

Regional cost estimates: Mauston, WI uses Madison, WI. Sleepy Eye, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$329
Savings
Annual Impact
$3.9K
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.

Mauston, WI

Population:4K
Cost Index:
91.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$250K

Sleepy Eye, MN

Population:3K
Cost Index:
87.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$246K

Planning the move to Sleepy Eye?

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Mauston, WI

The Badger State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Sleepy Eye, MN

The North Star State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mauston, WI vs Sleepy Eye, 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.

Other
↓ 7.6%
Mauston, WI
$1,674
Sleepy Eye, MN
$1,546
Difference
$128
less
Housing
↓ 5.0%
Mauston, WI
$2,318
Sleepy Eye, MN
$2,201
Difference
$116
less
Transportation
↓ 8.6%
Mauston, WI
$1,315
Sleepy Eye, MN
$1,202
Difference
$113
less
Groceries
↑ 3.6%
Mauston, WI
$962
Sleepy Eye, MN
$997
Difference
$34.58
more
All Utilities
↓ 3.4%
Mauston, WI
$510
Sleepy Eye, MN
$492
Difference
$17.56
less
Healthcare
↑ 1.5%
Mauston, WI
$721
Sleepy Eye, MN
$732
Difference
$11.16
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$740
To$670
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$740
To$740
→ $0
2 Bed
From$970
To$970
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,200
To$1,180
↓ $20.00
Mauston, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/mo

Sleepy Eye, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/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 Mauston, WI
$7,171
Monthly in Sleepy Eye, MN
$329
Difference

Home Values

Mauston
Sleepy Eye
$250K
Median Value
$246K
↑ +9.1%
YoY Change
↑ +12.7%
↑ +59%
5-Year Change
↑ +47.3%

Homes in Sleepy Eye are 2% less expensive than Mauston

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

Mauston, 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

Sleepy Eye, 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

Mauston, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Sleepy Eye, 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

Mauston
Sleepy Eye
42 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
72.1%
Good Air Days
66.4%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mauston, WI vs Sleepy Eye, MN

How do the cost estimates for Mauston, WI and Sleepy Eye, MN compare?

Sleepy Eye, MN has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower than Mauston, 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 Mauston, WI, the model estimates $146,053 in Sleepy Eye, 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 Mauston, WI and Sleepy Eye, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Mauston, WI and $970/month in Sleepy Eye, 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

Where your money goes further

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