West Salem, WI vs Lincoln, ND: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lincoln, ND has a modeled overall cost index 21.9% lower than West Salem, WI.

West Salem, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,310 / month
Lincoln, ND · modeled 2BR rent
$1,140 / 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 Salem, WI and Lincoln, ND 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: $1,460/month in Lincoln, ND

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $132,476 in Lincoln, ND

Regional cost estimates: West Salem, WI uses Madison, WI. Lincoln, ND uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 21.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,460
Savings
Annual Impact
$17.5K
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 Salem, WI

Population:5K
Cost Index:
88.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$362K

Lincoln, ND

Population:4K
Cost Index:
68.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$340K

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West Salem, WI

The Badger State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Lincoln, ND

The Peace Garden State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Dakota, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: West Salem, WI vs Lincoln, ND

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
↓ 22.6%
West Salem, WI
$2,306
Lincoln, ND
$1,784
Difference
$522
less
Other
↓ 24.8%
West Salem, WI
$1,666
Lincoln, ND
$1,253
Difference
$413
less
Transportation
↓ 25.6%
West Salem, WI
$1,309
Lincoln, ND
$974
Difference
$334
less
All Utilities
↓ 12.9%
West Salem, WI
$516
Lincoln, ND
$450
Difference
$66.38
less
Groceries
↓ 6.5%
West Salem, WI
$974
Lincoln, ND
$910
Difference
$63.43
less
Healthcare
↓ 8.4%
West Salem, WI
$730
Lincoln, ND
$669
Difference
$61.00
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$900
To$930
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$1,000
To$1,000
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,310
To$1,140
↓ $170
3 Bed
From$1,700
To$1,590
↓ $110
West Salem, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/mo

Lincoln, NDZIP-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 West Salem, WI
$6,040
Monthly in Lincoln, ND
$1,460
Difference

Home Values

West Salem
Lincoln
$362K
Median Value
$340K
↑ +4%
YoY Change
↑ +4.7%
↑ +33.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +29.3%

Homes in Lincoln are 6% less expensive than West Salem

Calculate payment - West SalemCalculate payment - Lincoln

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $6.1K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$506
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.0%
Rate difference

West Salem, 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

Lincoln, ND

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Dakota State Tax
Effective: 1.9%
$2.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 26.5%
$39.8K
Take-Home Pay
$9,184/month
$110.2K

Additional Tax Information

West Salem, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Lincoln, ND Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.8%
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 Salem
Lincoln
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 West Salem, WI to Lincoln, ND

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: West Salem, WI vs Lincoln, ND

How do the cost estimates for West Salem, WI and Lincoln, ND compare?

Lincoln, ND has a modeled overall cost index 21.9% lower than West Salem, 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 Salem, WI, the model estimates $132,476 in Lincoln, ND. 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 Salem, WI and Lincoln, ND?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,310/month in West Salem, WI and $1,140/month in Lincoln, ND. 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 North Dakota on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than West Salem, WI on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $68.94/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $39.13/mo

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