West Bend, WI vs Ballwin, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Ballwin, MO has a modeled overall cost index 3.2% lower than West Bend, WI.

West Bend, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,250 / month
Ballwin, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,440 / 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 West Bend, WI and Ballwin, MO 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $374/month in Ballwin, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,507 in Ballwin, MO

Regional cost estimates: West Bend, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Ballwin, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 3.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$374
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.5K
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.

West Bend, WI

Population:32K
Cost Index:
85.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$386K

Ballwin, MO

Population:30K
Cost Index:
82.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$371K

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West Bend, WI

The Badger State

32K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 32K residents.

Ballwin, MO

The Show-Me State

30K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 30K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: West Bend, WI vs Ballwin, MO

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.

Healthcare
↓ 26.3%
West Bend, WI
$795
Ballwin, MO
$586
Difference
$209
less
Transportation
↓ 12.5%
West Bend, WI
$1,507
Ballwin, MO
$1,318
Difference
$189
less
All Utilities
↑ 6.0%
West Bend, WI
$562
Ballwin, MO
$596
Difference
$33.88
more
Housing
↓ 1.5%
West Bend, WI
$1,854
Ballwin, MO
$1,826
Difference
$27.70
less
Other
↑ 1.2%
West Bend, WI
$1,721
Ballwin, MO
$1,743
Difference
$21.38
more
Groceries
↓ 0.4%
West Bend, WI
$1,061
Ballwin, MO
$1,056
Difference
$4.55
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$960
To$1,130
↑ $170
1 Bed
From$1,050
To$1,180
↑ $130
2 Bed
From$1,250
To$1,440
↑ $190
3 Bed
From$1,540
To$1,850
↑ $310
West Bend, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,050–$1,050/mo

Ballwin, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,180–$1,180/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 West Bend, WI
$7,126
Monthly in Ballwin, MO
$374
Difference

Home Values

West Bend
Ballwin
$386K
Median Value
$371K
↑ +7.1%
YoY Change
↑ +1.5%
↑ +40.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.3%

Homes in Ballwin are 4% less expensive than West Bend

Calculate payment - West BendCalculate payment - Ballwin

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $921
Per year
Monthly Difference
$76.74
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

West Bend, 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

Ballwin, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

West Bend, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Ballwin, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 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

West Bend
Ballwin
43 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
68.6%
Good Air Days
38%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days

Before moving from West Bend, WI to Ballwin, MO

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Ballwin, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in West Bend, 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 West Bend to Ballwin moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: West Bend, WI vs Ballwin, MO

How do the cost estimates for West Bend, WI and Ballwin, MO compare?

Ballwin, MO has a modeled overall cost index 3.2% lower than West Bend, 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 West Bend, WI, the model estimates $145,507 in Ballwin, MO. 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 West Bend, WI and Ballwin, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,250/month in West Bend, WI and $1,440/month in Ballwin, MO. 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 Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

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