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

Which city costs less?

Mauston, WI has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% higher than Sleepy Eye, MN.

Sleepy Eye, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Mauston, WI · 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 Sleepy Eye, MN and Mauston, WI 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: $344/month in Mauston, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,128 in Mauston, WI

Regional cost estimates: Sleepy Eye, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Mauston, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 4.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$344
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$4.1K
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.

Sleepy Eye, MN

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

Mauston, WI

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

Planning the move to Mauston?

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Sleepy Eye, MN

The North Star State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Mauston, WI

The Badger State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

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
↑ 8.3%
Sleepy Eye, MN
$1,617
Mauston, WI
$1,751
Difference
$134
more
Housing
↑ 5.3%
Sleepy Eye, MN
$2,302
Mauston, WI
$2,424
Difference
$122
more
Transportation
↑ 9.4%
Sleepy Eye, MN
$1,258
Mauston, WI
$1,376
Difference
$118
more
Groceries
↓ 3.5%
Sleepy Eye, MN
$1,042
Mauston, WI
$1,006
Difference
$36.17
less
All Utilities
↑ 3.6%
Sleepy Eye, MN
$515
Mauston, WI
$533
Difference
$18.37
more
Healthcare
↓ 1.5%
Sleepy Eye, MN
$766
Mauston, WI
$754
Difference
$11.67
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$670
To$740
↑ $70.00
1 Bed
From$740
To$740
→ $0
2 Bed
From$970
To$970
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,180
To$1,200
↑ $20.00
Sleepy Eye, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/mo

Mauston, WIZIP-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 Sleepy Eye, MN
$7,844
Monthly in Mauston, WI
$344
Difference

Home Values

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

Homes in Mauston are 2% more expensive than Sleepy Eye

Calculate payment - Sleepy EyeCalculate payment - Mauston

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.6K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$132
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.1%
Rate difference

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

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

Additional Tax Information

Sleepy Eye, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Mauston, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

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

Before moving from Sleepy Eye, MN to Mauston, WI

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mauston, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Sleepy Eye, MN. 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 Sleepy Eye to Mauston moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

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

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

Mauston, WI has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% higher than Sleepy Eye, 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 Sleepy Eye, MN, the model estimates $154,128 in Mauston, WI. 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 Sleepy Eye, MN and Mauston, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Sleepy Eye, MN and $970/month in Mauston, WI. 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 Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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