St. Francis, WI vs Columbia City, IN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Columbia City, IN has a modeled overall cost index 7.0% lower than St. Francis, WI.

St. Francis, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,140 / month
Columbia City, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / 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 St. Francis, WI and Columbia City, IN 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 savings: $547/month in Columbia City, IN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,438 in Columbia City, IN

Regional cost estimates: St. Francis, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Columbia City, IN uses Fort Wayne, IN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 7.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$547
Savings
Annual Impact
$6.6K
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.

St. Francis, WI

Population:9K
Cost Index:
82.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$271K

Columbia City, IN

Population:10K
Cost Index:
77.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$270K

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St. Francis, WI

The Badger State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Columbia City, IN

The Hoosier State

10K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: St. Francis, WI vs Columbia City, IN

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.

Transportation
↓ 13.9%
St. Francis, WI
$1,500
Columbia City, IN
$1,292
Difference
$208
less
Healthcare
↓ 18.2%
St. Francis, WI
$803
Columbia City, IN
$657
Difference
$146
less
Other
↓ 5.4%
St. Francis, WI
$1,713
Columbia City, IN
$1,620
Difference
$93.28
less
Housing
↓ 3.5%
St. Francis, WI
$1,845
Columbia City, IN
$1,780
Difference
$64.97
less
Groceries
↓ 3.2%
St. Francis, WI
$1,072
Columbia City, IN
$1,037
Difference
$34.47
less
All Utilities
↓ 0.1%
St. Francis, WI
$568
Columbia City, IN
$567
Difference
$0.54
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$850
To$860
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$960
To$880
↓ $80.00
2 Bed
From$1,140
To$1,070
↓ $70.00
3 Bed
From$1,410
To$1,330
↓ $80.00
St. Francis, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $960–$960/mo

Columbia City, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/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 St. Francis, WI
$6,953
Monthly in Columbia City, IN
$547
Difference

Home Values

St. Francis
Columbia City
$271K
Median Value
$270K
↓ -2.3%
YoY Change
↑ +5.2%
↑ +26.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +43.7%
Calculate payment - St. FrancisCalculate payment - Columbia City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $4.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$334
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.7%
Rate difference

St. Francis, 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

Columbia City, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Additional Tax Information

St. Francis, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Columbia City, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

💡 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

St. Francis
Columbia City
43 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
68.6%
Good Air Days
62.6%
98 High
Climate Risk
91 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days

Before moving from St. Francis, WI to Columbia City, IN

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Columbia City, IN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in St. Francis, 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 St. Francis to Columbia City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Columbia City, IN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: St. Francis, WI vs Columbia City, IN

How do the cost estimates for St. Francis, WI and Columbia City, IN compare?

Columbia City, IN has a modeled overall cost index 7.0% lower than St. Francis, 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 St. Francis, WI, the model estimates $143,438 in Columbia City, IN. 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 St. Francis, WI and Columbia City, IN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,140/month in St. Francis, WI and $1,070/month in Columbia City, IN. 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 Indiana on TaxTakeHome.com

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