Sparta, WI vs Little Falls, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Little Falls, MN has a modeled overall cost index 1.7% lower than Sparta, WI.

Sparta, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,080 / month
Little Falls, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $980 / 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 Sparta, WI and Little Falls, 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

Current salary in Sparta, WI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $175/month in Little Falls, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,899 in Little Falls, MN

Regional cost estimates: Sparta, WI uses Madison, WI. Little Falls, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$175

Savings

Annual Impact

$2.1K

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.

Sparta, WI

Population:10K

Cost Index:

91.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$262K

Little Falls, MN

Population:9K

Cost Index:

89.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$260K

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Sparta, WI

The Badger State

10K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Little Falls, MN

The North Star State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sparta, WI vs Little Falls, 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.

Category	Sparta, WI	Little Falls, MN	Difference	Change
Other	$1,675/mo	$1,586/mo	↓ $88.70less	5.3%
Transportation	$1,315/mo	$1,233/mo	↓ $82.33less	6.3%
Housing	$2,318/mo	$2,258/mo	↓ $60.25less	2.6%
Groceries	$962/mo	$1,009/mo	↑ $47.16more	4.9%
Healthcare	$721/mo	$741/mo	↑ $20.40more	2.8%
All Utilities	$510/mo	$498/mo	↓ $11.34less	2.2%

Other

↓ 5.3%

Sparta, WI

$1,675

Little Falls, MN

$1,586

Difference

$88.70

less

Transportation

↓ 6.3%

Sparta, WI

$1,315

Little Falls, MN

$1,233

Difference

$82.33

less

Housing

↓ 2.6%

Sparta, WI

$2,318

Little Falls, MN

$2,258

Difference

$60.25

less

Groceries

↑ 4.9%

Sparta, WI

$962

Little Falls, MN

$1,009

Difference

$47.16

Healthcare

↑ 2.8%

Sparta, WI

$721

Little Falls, MN

$741

Difference

$20.40

All Utilities

↓ 2.2%

Sparta, WI

$510

Little Falls, MN

$498

Difference

$11.34

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$740

To$680

↓ $60.00

1 Bed

From$830

To$760

↓ $70.00

2 Bed

From$1,080

To$980

↓ $100

3 Bed

From$1,430

To$1,360

↓ $70.00

Sparta, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/mo

Little Falls, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/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 Sparta, WI

$7,325

Monthly in Little Falls, MN

$175

Difference

Home Values

Sparta

Little Falls

$262K

Median Value

$260K

↑ +6.4%

YoY Change

↑ +3%

↑ +41.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +36.4%

Homes in Little Falls are 1% less expensive than Sparta

Calculate payment - Sparta Calculate payment - Little Falls

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

Sparta, 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

Little Falls, 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

Sparta, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

Little Falls, 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

Sparta

Little Falls

42 Good

Air Quality

42 Good

72.1%

Good Air Days

66.4%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.6°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.6°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

Before moving from Sparta, WI to Little Falls, MN

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Sparta, WI vs Little Falls, MN

How do the cost estimates for Sparta, WI and Little Falls, MN compare?

Little Falls, MN has a modeled overall cost index 1.7% lower than Sparta, 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 Sparta, WI, the model estimates $147,899 in Little Falls, 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 Sparta, WI and Little Falls, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,080/month in Sparta, WI and $980/month in Little Falls, 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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