Prairie du Chien, WI vs Windsor Heights, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Windsor Heights, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than Prairie du Chien, WI.

Prairie du Chien, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month
Windsor Heights, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,150 / 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 Prairie du Chien, WI and Windsor Heights, IA 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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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $412/month in Windsor Heights, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,061 in Windsor Heights, IA

Regional cost estimates: Prairie du Chien, WI uses Madison, WI. Windsor Heights, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$412
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.9K
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.

Prairie du Chien, WI

Population:5K
Cost Index:
86.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$207K

Windsor Heights, IA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
82.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$221K

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Prairie du Chien, WI

The Badger State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Windsor Heights, IA

The Hawkeye State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Prairie du Chien, WI vs Windsor Heights, IA

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
↓ 16.1%
Prairie du Chien, WI
$2,301
Windsor Heights, IA
$1,930
Difference
$370
less
Transportation
↓ 1.8%
Prairie du Chien, WI
$1,306
Windsor Heights, IA
$1,282
Difference
$23.28
less
All Utilities
↓ 2.5%
Prairie du Chien, WI
$519
Windsor Heights, IA
$506
Difference
$12.97
less
Other
↓ 0.3%
Prairie du Chien, WI
$1,662
Windsor Heights, IA
$1,658
Difference
$4.32
less
Groceries
↓ 0.1%
Prairie du Chien, WI
$979
Windsor Heights, IA
$979
Difference
$0.54
less
Healthcare
↓ 0.0%
Prairie du Chien, WI
$734
Windsor Heights, IA
$734
Difference
$0.13
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$710
To$930
↑ $220
1 Bed
From$910
To$970
↑ $60.00
2 Bed
From$1,000
To$1,150
↑ $150
3 Bed
From$1,200
To$1,570
↑ $370
Prairie du Chien, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/mo

Windsor Heights, IAZIP-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 Prairie du Chien, WI
$7,088
Monthly in Windsor Heights, IA
$412
Difference

Home Values

Prairie du Chien
Windsor Heights
$207K
Median Value
$221K
↑ +10.6%
YoY Change
↑ +0.1%
↑ +53.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +28.8%

Homes in Windsor Heights are 7% more expensive than Prairie du Chien

Calculate payment - Prairie du ChienCalculate payment - Windsor Heights

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.9K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$154
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.2%
Rate difference

Prairie du Chien, 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

Windsor Heights, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Prairie du Chien, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Windsor Heights, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Prairie du Chien
Windsor Heights
42 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
72.1%
Good Air Days
67.5%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Prairie du Chien, WI to Windsor Heights, IA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Windsor Heights, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Prairie du Chien, 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 Prairie du Chien to Windsor Heights moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Windsor Heights, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Prairie du Chien, WI vs Windsor Heights, IA

How do the cost estimates for Prairie du Chien, WI and Windsor Heights, IA compare?

Windsor Heights, IA has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than Prairie du Chien, 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 Prairie du Chien, WI, the model estimates $145,061 in Windsor Heights, IA. 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 Prairie du Chien, WI and Windsor Heights, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,000/month in Prairie du Chien, WI and $1,150/month in Windsor Heights, IA. 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 Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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