Winterset, IA vs Lake City, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lake City, MN has a modeled overall cost index 13.0% higher than Winterset, IA.

Winterset, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,240 / month
Lake City, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,240 / 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 Winterset, IA and Lake City, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $921/month in Lake City, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $161,049 in Lake City, MN

Regional cost estimates: Winterset, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Lake City, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 13.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$921
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$11.0K
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.

Winterset, IA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
82.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$286K

Lake City, MN

Population:5K
Cost Index:
93.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$308K

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Winterset, IA

The Hawkeye State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Lake City, MN

The North Star State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Winterset, IA vs Lake City, 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
↑ 25.9%
Winterset, IA
$2,043
Lake City, MN
$2,571
Difference
$529
more
Groceries
↑ 11.4%
Winterset, IA
$1,035
Lake City, MN
$1,153
Difference
$118
more
Transportation
↑ 7.5%
Winterset, IA
$1,357
Lake City, MN
$1,458
Difference
$101
more
Healthcare
↑ 9.1%
Winterset, IA
$776
Lake City, MN
$846
Difference
$70.84
more
Other
↑ 3.9%
Winterset, IA
$1,755
Lake City, MN
$1,823
Difference
$68.14
more
All Utilities
↑ 6.4%
Winterset, IA
$535
Lake City, MN
$569
Difference
$34.27
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,000
To$1,030
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$1,040
To$1,110
↑ $70.00
2 Bed
From$1,240
To$1,240
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,690
To$1,660
↓ $30.00
Winterset, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,040–$1,040/mo

Lake City, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,110–$1,110/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 Winterset, IA
$8,421
Monthly in Lake City, MN
$921
Difference

Home Values

Winterset
Lake City
$286K
Median Value
$308K
↑ +0.3%
YoY Change
↑ +2.6%
↑ +32%
5-Year Change
↑ +36.7%

Homes in Lake City are 8% more expensive than Winterset

Calculate payment - WintersetCalculate payment - Lake City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $272
Per year
Monthly Difference
$22.70
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Winterset, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Lake City, 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

Winterset, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Lake City, 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

Winterset
Lake City
45 Good
Air Quality
36 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
72.4%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
95 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Winterset, IA to Lake City, 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 Lake City, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Winterset, IA. 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 Winterset to Lake City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Winterset, IA vs Lake City, MN

How do the cost estimates for Winterset, IA and Lake City, MN compare?

Lake City, MN has a modeled overall cost index 13.0% higher than Winterset, IA. 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 Winterset, IA, the model estimates $161,049 in Lake City, 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 Winterset, IA and Lake City, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,240/month in Winterset, IA and $1,240/month in Lake City, 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 Iowa and Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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