Minnesota vs Wisconsin: which really costs more?
Upper Midwest neighbors with a long history of people working across the line.
Income tax is close between these two. The difference shows up at the till instead — sales tax is where one of them quietly costs more. The purchase they disagree about most is home purchase. After that it is car purchase and then wedding. Everything below is sorted the same way, biggest gap first, so the things that barely differ sink to the bottom where they belong.
Upper Midwest neighbors with a long history of cross-border comparison.
Effective income tax rates are near-identical at the reference salary; the divergence is in the combined state-and-local sales tax rate, so it accrues on consumption rather than on wages. Largest absolute divergence by category: home purchase. Then car purchase, then wedding.
Minnesota
- Income tax rate
- 5.35%–9.85%
- On a $75,000 salary
- 4.77%
- Rank of 51
- 6
- Combined sales tax
- 8.13%
- Rank of 51
- 15
Wisconsin
- Income tax rate
- 3.5%–7.65%
- On a $75,000 salary
- 4%
- Rank of 51
- 18
- Combined sales tax
- 5.72%
- Rank of 51
- 43
Beyond income and sales tax
A home costs more to keep in Wisconsin, where property tax takes 1.42% of its value each year. In Minnesota it is 1.02%. Minnesota also taxes large estates when someone dies, above $3,000,000.00. Wisconsin does not. Gas carries a similar state tax in both: 33¢ 32.6¢ a gallon in Minnesota, 31¢ 30.9¢ in Wisconsin.
Effective property tax rate: about 1.42% of market value in Wisconsin against about 1.02% in Minnesota — a holding cost the income and sales tax figures above do not capture. Minnesota levies a state estate tax with an exemption of $3,000,000; Wisconsin levies none. State gasoline excise: 33¢ 32.6¢ per gallon in Minnesota, 31¢ 30.9¢ in Wisconsin.
The income tax figure is what one person earning $75,000.00 pays to the state, as a share of that pay. The sales tax figure is the combined state and local rate. Both come from the same checked data the calculator uses.
Income tax is the effective state rate at $75,000 for a single filer, not a marginal rate. Sales tax is the combined state and local rate at each state's representative county where one is modeled, and a statewide average for the forty-five jurisdictions that carry no named county. Both figures come from the same verified datasets the calculator uses.
Minnesota against Wisconsin
A $75,000 salary
| Measure | Minnesota | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay | $58,016 | $58,595 |
| Worth after local prices | $58,949 | $62,939 |
| Share of pay taxed | 22.65% | 21.87% |
| State sales tax | 6.88% | 5% |
| Groceries exempt here | Yes | Yes |
| Clothing exempt at $100 | Yes | No |
| Property tax rate | 1.02% | 1.42% |
| Price level | 98.4 | 93.1 |
| Housing prices | 90.6 | 78.3 |
| Fuel tax | 32.6¢ | 30.9¢ |
| Tobacco tax | $3.04 | $2.52 |
City income tax excluded. Sales-tax row: state-only. Exemptions: Minnesota, Statewide average; Wisconsin, Statewide average. Clothing: one $100 item; higher prices can change tax.
Where each state is strong
A $75,000 salary
Further out is better on every axis. Axes use fixed national ranges, not the two states alone.
Where each state takes it
A $75,000 salary
- Income
- Sales
- Property
| Tax | Minnesota | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Income, all levels | $16,984 | $16,405 |
| Sales, on that spending | $1,197 | $879 |
| Property, on that home | $2,039 | $2,846 |
Assumes 30% of take-home spent on taxable goods and a $200,000 home. Three bases, so never summed.
What gets taxed, in each
A $75,000 salary
Minnesota
Statewide average
Wisconsin
Statewide average
- Sales tax
- Fuel
- Tobacco
| Category | Minnesota | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Exempt | Exempt |
| Clothing at $100 | Exempt | 5.72% |
| Fuel | 32.6¢ | 30.9¢ |
| Tobacco | $3.04 | $2.52 |
Grocery and general rates use the locations named here. Clothing is one item priced at $100; a more expensive garment may be taxed differently. Fuel and tobacco have separate units and scales.
What you would need there
A $75,000 salary
| To match take-home only | $74,101 |
|---|---|
| You could take a cut of | −$5,767 |
| Prices in Wisconsin | 93 vs 98 |
State taxes and state price levels only. No city tax, and no housing market.
What things actually cost in each
These are the amounts you would need to earn before tax to pay for each thing, at a $75,000.00 salary. Biggest gaps first.
Gross income required at $75,000, using each category's default assumptions, sorted by the absolute difference between the two states.
| Category | Minnesota | Wisconsin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home purchase | $1,364,552 | $1,342,331 | $22,221 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Car purchase | $148,633 | $141,677 | $6,956 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Wedding | $51,210 | $49,316 | $1,895 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Coffee habit | $27,982 | $26,990 | $992 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Used car from a private seller | $20,419 | $19,695 | $724 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Car payment or lease | $18,297 | $18,052 | $245 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Jewelry | $5,956 | $5,744 | $211 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Funeral | $12,589 | $12,420 | $169 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Phone plan | $10,842 | $10,697 | $145 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Pet annual cost | $2,634 | $2,541 | $93 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Furniture | $2,552 | $2,462 | $90 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Laptop or phone purchase | $2,042 | $1,970 | $72 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Major appliance | $1,872 | $1,805 | $66 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Sofa bed | $1,702 | $1,641 | $60 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Mattress | $1,531 | $1,477 | $54 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Winter tires | $1,531 | $1,477 | $54 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Tires | $1,361 | $1,313 | $48 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Bicycle | $1,191 | $1,149 | $42 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Espresso machine | $1,191 | $1,149 | $42 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Rent | $2,832 | $2,794 | $38 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Office chair | $1,021 | $985 | $36 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Back-to-school clothes | $787 | $821 | $34 cheaper in Minnesota |
| Air conditioner | $851 | $821 | $30 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Games console | $851 | $821 | $30 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Theme park day | $864 | $834 | $30 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Lawn mower | $766 | $739 | $27 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Suit | $629 | $657 | $27 cheaper in Minnesota |
| Camping gear | $723 | $698 | $26 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| School uniform | $566 | $591 | $24 cheaper in Minnesota |
| Power tools | $681 | $657 | $24 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Childcare | $1,731 | $1,708 | $23 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Vacuum cleaner | $596 | $574 | $21 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Cookware | $510 | $492 | $18 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Running shoes | $409 | $427 | $18 cheaper in Minnesota |
| Luggage | $425 | $410 | $15 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Work uniform | $346 | $361 | $15 cheaper in Minnesota |
| Hotel stay | $1,101 | $1,086 | $15 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Winter coat | $315 | $328 | $14 cheaper in Minnesota |
| School supplies | $306 | $295 | $11 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Health insurance premium | $708 | $699 | $9.50 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Gift card | $629 | $621 | $8.44 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Student loan payment | $629 | $621 | $8.44 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Clothing | $189 | $197 | $8.13 cheaper in Minnesota |
| Concert ticket | $232 | $225 | $7.62 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Vet visit | $566 | $559 | $7.59 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Domestic flight | $516 | $509 | $6.93 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Costume | $142 | $148 | $6.12 cheaper in Minnesota |
| Restaurant dinner | $163 | $158 | $5.78 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Swimwear | $134 | $140 | $5.76 cheaper in Minnesota |
| Meal kit | $378 | $373 | $5.06 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Utilities | $330 | $326 | $4.42 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Baby clothes | $87 | $90 | $3.76 cheaper in Minnesota |
| Weekly groceries | $275 | $272 | $3.69 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Pet food | $102 | $98 | $3.63 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Car insurance | $260 | $256 | $3.49 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Sunscreen | $94 | $90 | $3.30 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Grocery delivery | $223 | $220 | $2.99 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Rental car | $447 | $444 | $2.76 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Storage unit | $205 | $202 | $2.73 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| First aid supplies | $77 | $74 | $2.72 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Gym membership | $77 | $74 | $2.72 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Streaming bundle | $77 | $74 | $2.72 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Birthday cake | $189 | $186 | $2.54 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Dry cleaning | $68 | $66 | $2.41 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Toiletries | $68 | $66 | $2.41 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Vitamins and supplements | $60 | $57 | $2.11 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Deli sandwich | $56 | $54 | $1.96 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Pizza delivery | $63 | $62 | $1.91 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Books | $51 | $49 | $1.81 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Cinema ticket | $50 | $49 | $1.73 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Food delivery | $60 | $59 | $1.63 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Cannabis (legal states) | $111 | $110 | $1.47 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Internet service | $110 | $109 | $1.46 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Soft drinks | $41 | $39 | $1.45 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Baby formula | $71 | $70 | $0.97 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Gas fill-up | $71 | $70 | $0.97 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Haircut | $66 | $65 | $0.89 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Over-the-counter medicine | $26 | $25 | $0.88 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Energy drinks | $24 | $23 | $0.86 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Candy | $20 | $20 | $0.72 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Fast food meal | $20 | $20 | $0.72 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Bar drink | $18 | $18 | $0.65 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Prescription refill | $47 | $47 | $0.61 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Cigarettes or vape | $15 | $15 | $0.55 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Coffee beans | $38 | $37 | $0.50 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Frozen meals | $35 | $34 | $0.46 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Rideshare trip | $35 | $34 | $0.46 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Bread and bakery | $22 | $22 | $0.27 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Snack food | $19 | $19 | $0.26 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Bottled juice | $14 | $14 | $0.22 cheaper in Wisconsin |
| Bottled water | $16 | $16 | $0.21 cheaper in Wisconsin |
Across the 91 things we can price in both states, Wisconsin comes out cheaper more often. That is not the whole story. Housing, wages and property tax move far more than sales tax does, and none of them are in these numbers. See limitations.
Across the 91 categories computable in both states, Wisconsin is cheaper more often. ⚠️ This compares tax treatment alone: housing costs, prevailing wages and property tax vary far more between states than sales tax does, and none of them enter these figures. See limitations.
Questions people ask
Both of these tax income — so what actually separates them?
Degree rather than kind, which makes this a harder comparison than it looks. The effective income rates differ by about 0.77% here, and structure differs beyond that — where the brackets start, what is deducted first, and whether the schedule widens for a couple.
Do the different taxes point the same way for this pair?
Here they do, which makes this an unusually clean comparison. One state charges more on both counts rather than trading one against the other — so the answer holds for most households instead of flipping depending on how much you spend.
How much would moving between these two actually change?
Enough to be worth calculating rather than guessing. The gap between these two is wide on at least one levy, so the answer depends on your own income and spending rather than on a general rule — which is what the calculator above is for.
On what dimensions do two income-taxing states diverge?
Both states levy personal income tax, so divergence is in rate and structure rather than in existence. Effective rates differ by about 0.77% at this project's representative income; bracket thresholds, deduction levels and joint-filing treatment vary independently and can reverse the ordering at other income levels.
Do the levies rank these states consistently?
Both levies rank these states in the same direction, so the burden ordering is stable across consumption patterns rather than reversing at some spending share. ⚠️ Property tax is levied independently and is not included in that consistency; it can still reverse the total for a homeowner.
How material is this differential?
At least one levy differs materially between these states. Aggregate effect is income- and consumption-dependent and should be computed for the specific household rather than inferred from headline rates; the ordering can still reverse once property tax is included.