Sturgeon Bay, WI vs Baxter, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Baxter, MN has a modeled overall cost index 11.4% higher than Sturgeon Bay, WI.

Sturgeon Bay, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,130 / month
Baxter, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,310 / 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 Sturgeon Bay, WI and Baxter, 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: $659/month in Baxter, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,912 in Baxter, MN

Regional cost estimates: Sturgeon Bay, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Baxter, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 11.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$659
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$7.9K
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.

Sturgeon Bay, WI

Population:10K
Cost Index:
78.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$360K

Baxter, MN

Population:9K
Cost Index:
87.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$351K

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Sturgeon Bay, WI

The Badger State

10K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Baxter, MN

The North Star State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sturgeon Bay, WI vs Baxter, 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
↑ 37.0%
Sturgeon Bay, WI
$1,827
Baxter, MN
$2,503
Difference
$676
more
Transportation
↓ 8.0%
Sturgeon Bay, WI
$1,485
Baxter, MN
$1,367
Difference
$118
less
Other
↑ 3.6%
Sturgeon Bay, WI
$1,697
Baxter, MN
$1,758
Difference
$61.59
more
Groceries
↑ 3.9%
Sturgeon Bay, WI
$1,093
Baxter, MN
$1,136
Difference
$43.09
more
All Utilities
↓ 3.1%
Sturgeon Bay, WI
$579
Baxter, MN
$561
Difference
$18.07
less
Healthcare
↑ 1.9%
Sturgeon Bay, WI
$819
Baxter, MN
$834
Difference
$15.47
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$800
To$900
↑ $100
1 Bed
From$860
To$1,000
↑ $140
2 Bed
From$1,130
To$1,310
↑ $180
3 Bed
From$1,370
To$1,570
↑ $200
Sturgeon Bay, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/mo

Baxter, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/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 Sturgeon Bay, WI
$8,159
Monthly in Baxter, MN
$659
Difference

Home Values

Sturgeon Bay
Baxter
$360K
Median Value
$351K
↑ +2.7%
YoY Change
↑ +3.6%
↑ +49.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +37%

Homes in Baxter are 3% less expensive than Sturgeon Bay

Calculate payment - Sturgeon BayCalculate payment - Baxter

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

Sturgeon 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

Baxter, 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

Sturgeon Bay, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Baxter, 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

Sturgeon Bay
Baxter
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 Sturgeon Bay, WI to Baxter, 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 Baxter, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Sturgeon 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 Sturgeon Bay to Baxter moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Sturgeon Bay, WI vs Baxter, MN

How do the cost estimates for Sturgeon Bay, WI and Baxter, MN compare?

Baxter, MN has a modeled overall cost index 11.4% higher than Sturgeon 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 Sturgeon Bay, WI, the model estimates $157,912 in Baxter, 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 Sturgeon Bay, WI and Baxter, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,130/month in Sturgeon Bay, WI and $1,310/month in Baxter, 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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