Sister Bay, WI vs Madison Lake, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Madison Lake, MN has a modeled overall cost index 32.2% higher than Sister Bay, WI.

Sister Bay, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,370 / month
Madison Lake, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,180 / 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 Sister Bay, WI and Madison 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: $1,908/month in Madison Lake, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $172,893 in Madison Lake, MN

Regional cost estimates: Sister Bay, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Madison Lake, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 32.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,908
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$22.9K
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.

Sister Bay, WI

Population:1K
Cost Index:
67.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$493K

Madison Lake, MN

Population:1K
Cost Index:
88.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$423K

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Sister Bay, WI

The Badger State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Madison Lake, MN

The North Star State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sister Bay, WI vs Madison 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
↑ 62.6%
Sister Bay, WI
$1,781
Madison Lake, MN
$2,895
Difference
$1,114
more
Other
↑ 23.0%
Sister Bay, WI
$1,654
Madison Lake, MN
$2,034
Difference
$380
more
Groceries
↑ 13.2%
Sister Bay, WI
$1,148
Madison Lake, MN
$1,300
Difference
$152
more
Transportation
↑ 9.2%
Sister Bay, WI
$1,448
Madison Lake, MN
$1,581
Difference
$133
more
Healthcare
↑ 11.0%
Sister Bay, WI
$860
Madison Lake, MN
$955
Difference
$94.59
more
All Utilities
↑ 5.5%
Sister Bay, WI
$608
Madison Lake, MN
$642
Difference
$33.67
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$970
To$920
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$1,040
To$930
↓ $110
2 Bed
From$1,370
To$1,180
↓ $190
3 Bed
From$1,660
To$1,630
↓ $30.00
Sister Bay, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,040–$1,040/mo

Madison Lake, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/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 Sister Bay, WI
$9,408
Monthly in Madison Lake, MN
$1,908
Difference

Home Values

Sister Bay
Madison Lake
$493K
Median Value
$423K
↑ +0.3%
YoY Change
↑ +4.6%
↑ +42.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +38%

Homes in Madison Lake are 14% less expensive than Sister Bay

Calculate payment - Sister BayCalculate payment - Madison 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

Sister Bay, 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

Madison 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

Sister Bay, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Madison 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

Sister Bay
Madison Lake
43 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
68.6%
Good Air Days
66.4%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Sister Bay, WI vs Madison Lake, MN

How do the cost estimates for Sister Bay, WI and Madison Lake, MN compare?

Madison Lake, MN has a modeled overall cost index 32.2% higher than Sister Bay, 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 Sister Bay, WI, the model estimates $172,893 in Madison 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 Sister Bay, WI and Madison Lake, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,370/month in Sister Bay, WI and $1,180/month in Madison 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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