North Mankato, MN vs Festus, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Festus, MO has a modeled overall cost index 12.9% lower than North Mankato, MN.

North Mankato, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,060 / month
Festus, MO · 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

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare North Mankato, MN and Festus, MO 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

Current salary in North Mankato, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $941/month in Festus, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $138,711 in Festus, MO

Regional cost estimates: North Mankato, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Festus, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 12.9%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$941

Savings

Annual Impact

$11.3K

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.

North Mankato, MN

Population:14K

Cost Index:

93.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$310K

Festus, MO

Population:13K

Cost Index:

81.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$292K

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North Mankato, MN

The North Star State

14K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Festus, MO

The Show-Me State

13K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 13K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: North Mankato, MN vs Festus, MO

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.

Category	North Mankato, MN	Festus, MO	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,325/mo	$1,676/mo	↓ $648less	27.9%
Healthcare	$749/mo	$543/mo	↓ $206less	27.5%
Transportation	$1,270/mo	$1,210/mo	↓ $59.52less	4.7%
All Utilities	$504/mo	$552/mo	↑ $48.30more	9.6%
Groceries	$1,020/mo	$978/mo	↓ $41.57less	4.1%
Other	$1,633/mo	$1,600/mo	↓ $33.32less	2.0%

Housing

↓ 27.9%

North Mankato, MN

$2,325

Festus, MO

$1,676

Difference

$648

less

Healthcare

↓ 27.5%

North Mankato, MN

$749

Festus, MO

$543

Difference

$206

less

Transportation

↓ 4.7%

North Mankato, MN

$1,270

Festus, MO

$1,210

Difference

$59.52

less

All Utilities

↑ 9.6%

North Mankato, MN

$504

Festus, MO

$552

Difference

$48.30

Groceries

↓ 4.1%

North Mankato, MN

$1,020

Festus, MO

$978

Difference

$41.57

less

Other

↓ 2.0%

North Mankato, MN

$1,633

Festus, MO

$1,600

Difference

$33.32

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$870

To$840

↓ $30.00

1 Bed

From$880

To$870

↓ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,060

To$1,070

↑ $10.00

3 Bed

From$1,490

To$1,380

↓ $110

North Mankato, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/mo

Festus, MOZIP-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 North Mankato, MN

$6,559

Monthly in Festus, MO

$941

Difference

Home Values

North Mankato

Festus

$310K

Median Value

$292K

↑ +5.7%

YoY Change

↑ +5.1%

↑ +33.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +35.7%

Homes in Festus are 6% less expensive than North Mankato

Calculate payment - North Mankato Calculate payment - Festus

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $2.5K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$209

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.7%

Rate difference

North Mankato, 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

Festus, MO

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Missouri State Tax

Effective: 5.3%

$7.9K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.0%

$44.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,755/month

$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

North Mankato, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

Festus, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.0%

💡 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

North Mankato

Festus

42 Good

Air Quality

54 Moderate

66.4%

Good Air Days

38%

98 High

Climate Risk

99 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

39 days

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

39 days

Before moving from North Mankato, MN to Festus, MO

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Festus, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in North Mankato, MN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your North Mankato to Festus moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: North Mankato, MN vs Festus, MO

How do the cost estimates for North Mankato, MN and Festus, MO compare?

Festus, MO has a modeled overall cost index 12.9% lower than North Mankato, 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 North Mankato, MN, the model estimates $138,711 in Festus, MO. 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 North Mankato, MN and Festus, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,060/month in North Mankato, MN and $1,070/month in Festus, MO. 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 Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com