Stoughton, WI vs River Falls, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

River Falls, WI has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% higher than Stoughton, WI.

Stoughton, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,470 / month
River Falls, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,520 / 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 Stoughton, WI and River Falls, 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

Current salary in Stoughton, WI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $9.59/month in River Falls, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,885 in River Falls, WI

Regional cost estimates: Stoughton, WI uses Madison, WI. River Falls, WI uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 0.3%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$9.59

Savings

Annual Impact

$115

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.

Stoughton, WI

Population:13K

Cost Index:

98.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$414K

River Falls, WI

Population:17K

Cost Index:

98.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$394K

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Stoughton, WI

The Badger State

13K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 13K residents.

River Falls, WI

The Badger State

17K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 17K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Stoughton, WI vs River Falls, 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.

Category	Stoughton, WI	River Falls, WI	Difference	Change
Groceries	$938/mo	$1,007/mo	↑ $69.87more	7.5%
Other	$1,692/mo	$1,634/mo	↓ $58.39less	3.5%
Healthcare	$702/mo	$740/mo	↑ $37.44more	5.3%
Housing	$2,342/mo	$2,305/mo	↓ $37.33less	1.6%
Transportation	$1,329/mo	$1,307/mo	↓ $21.92less	1.6%
All Utilities	$497/mo	$497/mo	↑ $0.74more	0.1%

Groceries

↑ 7.5%

Stoughton, WI

$938

River Falls, WI

$1,007

Difference

$69.87

Other

↓ 3.5%

Stoughton, WI

$1,692

River Falls, WI

$1,634

Difference

$58.39

less

Healthcare

↑ 5.3%

Stoughton, WI

$702

River Falls, WI

$740

Difference

$37.44

Housing

↓ 1.6%

Stoughton, WI

$2,342

River Falls, WI

$2,305

Difference

$37.33

less

Transportation

↓ 1.6%

Stoughton, WI

$1,329

River Falls, WI

$1,307

Difference

$21.92

less

All Utilities

↑ 0.1%

Stoughton, WI

$497

River Falls, WI

$497

Difference

$0.74

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,100

To$1,100

→ $0

1 Bed

From$1,280

To$1,250

↓ $30.00

2 Bed

From$1,470

To$1,520

↑ $50.00

3 Bed

From$1,940

To$2,020

↑ $80.00

Stoughton, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,280–$1,280/mo

River Falls, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,250–$1,250/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 Stoughton, WI

$7,490

Monthly in River Falls, WI

$9.59

Difference

Home Values

Stoughton

River Falls

$414K

Median Value

$394K

↑ +3.8%

YoY Change

↑ +2%

↑ +39.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +26.6%

Homes in River Falls are 5% less expensive than Stoughton

Calculate payment - Stoughton Calculate payment - River Falls

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Stoughton, 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

River Falls, 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

Stoughton, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

River Falls, 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

Stoughton

River Falls

42 Good

Air Quality

36 Good

72.1%

Good Air Days

72.4%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.7°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.7°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

Before moving from Stoughton, WI to River Falls, WI

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Stoughton, WI vs River Falls, WI

How do the cost estimates for Stoughton, WI and River Falls, WI compare?

River Falls, WI has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% higher than Stoughton, 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 Stoughton, WI, the model estimates $149,885 in River Falls, 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 Stoughton, WI and River Falls, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,470/month in Stoughton, WI and $1,520/month in River Falls, 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.