Pleasant Prairie, WI vs Forest Lake, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Forest Lake, MN has a modeled overall cost index 15.6% higher than Pleasant Prairie, WI.

Pleasant Prairie, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,730 / month
Forest Lake, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,680 / 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 Pleasant Prairie, WI and Forest Lake, 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 extra cost: $979/month in Forest Lake, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $161,746 in Forest Lake, MN

Regional cost estimates: Pleasant Prairie, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Forest Lake, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 15.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$979
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$11.7K
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.

Pleasant Prairie, WI

Population:22K
Cost Index:
85.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$433K

Forest Lake, MN

Population:21K
Cost Index:
98.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$418K

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Pleasant Prairie, WI

The Badger State

22K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 22K residents.

Forest Lake, MN

The North Star State

21K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 21K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Pleasant Prairie, WI vs Forest Lake, 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
↑ 40.8%
Pleasant Prairie, WI
$1,854
Forest Lake, MN
$2,611
Difference
$756
more
Other
↑ 7.5%
Pleasant Prairie, WI
$1,722
Forest Lake, MN
$1,851
Difference
$129
more
Groceries
↑ 7.4%
Pleasant Prairie, WI
$1,060
Forest Lake, MN
$1,139
Difference
$78.29
more
Healthcare
↑ 5.3%
Pleasant Prairie, WI
$794
Forest Lake, MN
$836
Difference
$41.81
more
Transportation
↓ 1.8%
Pleasant Prairie, WI
$1,507
Forest Lake, MN
$1,481
Difference
$26.72
less
All Utilities
↑ 0.1%
Pleasant Prairie, WI
$562
Forest Lake, MN
$562
Difference
$0.48
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,340
To$1,220
↓ $120
1 Bed
From$1,350
To$1,380
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,730
To$1,680
↓ $50.00
3 Bed
From$2,340
To$2,220
↓ $120
Pleasant Prairie, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,350–$1,350/mo

Forest Lake, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,380–$1,380/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 Pleasant Prairie, WI
$8,479
Monthly in Forest Lake, MN
$979
Difference

Home Values

Pleasant Prairie
Forest Lake
$433K
Median Value
$418K
↑ +7.8%
YoY Change
↑ +1.9%
↑ +38.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +24.5%

Homes in Forest Lake are 3% less expensive than Pleasant Prairie

Calculate payment - Pleasant PrairieCalculate payment - Forest Lake

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

Pleasant Prairie, 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

Forest Lake, 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

Pleasant Prairie, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Forest Lake, 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

Pleasant Prairie
Forest Lake
43 Good
Air Quality
36 Good
68.6%
Good Air Days
72.4%
98 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Pleasant Prairie, WI to Forest Lake, 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 Forest Lake, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Pleasant Prairie, 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 Pleasant Prairie to Forest Lake moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Pleasant Prairie, WI vs Forest Lake, MN

How do the cost estimates for Pleasant Prairie, WI and Forest Lake, MN compare?

Forest Lake, MN has a modeled overall cost index 15.6% higher than Pleasant Prairie, 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 Pleasant Prairie, WI, the model estimates $161,746 in Forest Lake, 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 Pleasant Prairie, WI and Forest Lake, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,730/month in Pleasant Prairie, WI and $1,680/month in Forest Lake, 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

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