Cost of Living in Wisconsin

Avg Index: 82

96 cities · Updated March 2026

$1,110
Avg Rent / Month
$82,564
Avg Income
$266,981
Avg Home Value
82
Avg Cost Index
7.65%
Income Tax
5.0%
Sales Tax
Cheapest in Wisconsin
Marinette
Index: 48 · Rent: $763/mo
Most Expensive in Wisconsin
Mequon
Index: 152 · Rent: $2,271/mo

Wisconsin Cost of Living Overview

Wisconsin is significantly more affordable than the national average, with a state-wide cost index of 82. The average monthly rent across Wisconsin cities is $1,110, with median household incomes averaging $82,564 per year. The cheapest city is Marinette (index 48) and the most expensive is Mequon (index 152).

Wisconsin has a moderate tax environment with a 7.65% top income tax rate, 5.0% sales tax, and 1.61% effective property tax rate.

All 96 Cities in Wisconsin — Ranked by Cost

Sorted from cheapest to most expensive (US average = 100)

#CityCost Index RentIncomeHome ValuePopulation
1 Marinette 48 $763/mo $57,461 $111,600 11,060
2 Two Rivers 49 $756/mo $58,716 $121,800 11,224
3 Manitowoc 52 $787/mo $62,133 $143,900 34,553
4 Wisconsin Rapids 53 $872/mo $54,116 $116,600 18,756
5 Marshfield 56 $798/mo $59,294 $169,900 18,718
6 Beloit 59 $989/mo $59,975 $133,500 36,554
7 Menasha 59 $866/mo $64,392 $169,200 18,130
8 Sheboygan 59 $874/mo $62,953 $165,200 49,812
9 Waupun 59 $830/mo $66,931 $167,700 11,244
10 Fond du Lac 60 $905/mo $61,620 $161,300 44,491
11 Monroe 60 $844/mo $67,621 $184,400 10,568
12 Oshkosh 61 $908/mo $61,929 $168,400 66,247
13 Superior 61 $881/mo $63,415 $168,500 26,550
14 Wausau 61 $950/mo $61,877 $155,900 39,893
15 Platteville 62 $885/mo $42,667 $186,900 11,421
16 Stevens Point 62 $874/mo $56,218 $189,700 25,497
17 Chippewa Falls 63 $910/mo $62,133 $194,800 14,643
18 Racine 63 $983/mo $55,705 $158,100 77,155
19 Green Bay 64 $904/mo $62,546 $191,500 106,585
20 Beaver Dam 66 $942/mo $68,757 $189,800 16,629
21 Menomonie 66 $933/mo $54,587 $203,800 16,548
22 Portage 66 $963/mo $62,785 $187,300 10,374
23 La Crosse 67 $977/mo $53,803 $196,600 51,791
24 Milwaukee 67 $1,033/mo $51,888 $172,000 569,756
25 Baraboo 68 $926/mo $73,515 $201,800 12,506
26 Cudahy 68 $977/mo $66,717 $201,000 17,964
27 Neenah 68 $970/mo $73,880 $194,700 27,409
28 Fort Atkinson 69 $957/mo $75,350 $198,600 12,490
29 Kaukauna 69 $988/mo $78,353 $198,800 17,237
30 Reedsburg 69 $944/mo $71,991 $218,300 10,060
31 Whitewater 69 $985/mo $49,000 $211,800 15,705
32 Appleton 70 $957/mo $77,450 $211,500 74,873
33 West Allis 70 $1,012/mo $69,685 $191,700 59,588
34 Weston 70 $975/mo $75,565 $215,900 15,784
35 Eau Claire 71 $971/mo $65,369 $228,000 69,274
36 Allouez 72 $984/mo $90,035 $217,100 14,023
37 Ashwaubenon 72 $945/mo $71,180 $245,100 16,931
38 Fox Crossing 72 $961/mo $74,423 $228,000 18,960
39 Janesville 72 $1,037/mo $71,664 $209,700 65,813
40 South Milwaukee 73 $1,014/mo $70,146 $216,400 20,547
41 Watertown 73 $1,061/mo $68,333 $211,500 22,873
42 De Pere 76 $981/mo $80,550 $253,900 25,368
43 Plover 76 $1,041/mo $83,139 $244,500 13,713
44 Kenosha 77 $1,137/mo $68,532 $210,500 99,147
45 West Bend 77 $1,033/mo $75,043 $244,500 31,722
46 Burlington 78 $967/mo $81,658 $268,300 11,021
47 Elkhorn 78 $999/mo $73,052 $255,300 10,259
48 Little Chute 78 $1,141/mo $79,260 $223,400 11,930
49 Bellevue 80 $1,083/mo $80,750 $267,700 16,255
50 Brown Deer 80 $1,132/mo $91,567 $221,100 12,615
51 Greenfield 80 $1,123/mo $69,016 $247,800 37,361
52 Mount Pleasant 81 $1,045/mo $90,189 $269,900 27,694
53 Port Washington 81 $1,021/mo $81,582 $276,000 12,569
54 Howard 82 $1,053/mo $84,896 $286,200 20,261
55 Onalaska 82 $1,096/mo $84,898 $279,100 18,909
56 Hartford 83 $1,095/mo $74,252 $261,300 15,761
57 New Richmond 83 $1,070/mo $87,500 $269,000 10,334
58 Holmen 84 $1,164/mo $77,083 $262,600 11,027
59 Caledonia 85 $1,080/mo $91,053 $279,400 25,292
60 River Falls 85 $1,050/mo $78,078 $299,800 16,349
61 Salem Lakes 85 $1,132/mo $94,554 $281,500 14,521
62 Stoughton 85 $1,155/mo $78,517 $283,900 13,063
63 Waukesha 89 $1,183/mo $81,651 $286,600 70,779
64 Grafton 90 $1,162/mo $88,634 $301,300 12,274
65 Greendale 90 $1,177/mo $95,015 $289,600 14,656
66 Glendale 92 $1,354/mo $77,096 $260,300 13,134
67 Cedarburg 94 $1,057/mo $82,110 $386,400 12,317
68 Suamico 95 $1,148/mo $113,614 $341,100 13,003
69 Greenville 97 $1,219/mo $110,103 $337,100 12,911
70 Hobart 99 $1,226/mo $111,918 $363,500 10,418
71 Oak Creek 99 $1,397/mo $93,120 $305,100 36,473
72 Menomonee Falls 100 $1,257/mo $98,460 $341,600 38,963
73 Wauwatosa 100 $1,373/mo $93,859 $307,600 47,718
74 Oregon 101 $1,229/mo $100,695 $361,200 11,384
75 Harrison 102 $1,397/mo $118,047 $314,200 13,345
76 New Berlin 102 $1,409/mo $97,414 $343,500 40,384
77 Oconomowoc 102 $1,235/mo $105,833 $367,700 18,385
78 DeForest 103 $1,381/mo $106,223 $337,500 10,853
79 Franklin 103 $1,325/mo $108,342 $343,400 35,751
80 Germantown 103 $1,310/mo $104,337 $356,700 20,940
81 Madison 103 $1,364/mo $76,983 $346,900 275,568
82 Sun Prairie 103 $1,374/mo $90,521 $339,800 36,455
83 Pleasant Prairie 104 $1,446/mo $103,903 $336,300 21,515
84 Sussex 104 $1,231/mo $112,031 $384,900 11,795
85 Fitchburg 105 $1,302/mo $85,420 $389,400 31,566
86 Hudson 106 $1,377/mo $97,036 $355,000 15,004
87 Muskego 108 $1,292/mo $116,361 $390,900 25,156
88 Shorewood 111 $1,291/mo $89,135 $423,600 13,682
89 Verona 114 $1,462/mo $119,148 $382,800 14,499
90 Middleton 115 $1,357/mo $85,526 $457,400 22,235
91 Pewaukee 117 $1,485/mo $112,093 $434,700 16,002
92 Waunakee 121 $1,236/mo $128,750 $490,300 14,927
93 Richfield 124 $1,460/mo $135,774 $456,500 11,806
94 Brookfield 127 $1,794/mo $124,026 $419,300 41,592
95 Whitefish Bay 129 $1,348/mo $154,255 $498,700 14,750
96 Mequon 152 $2,271/mo $147,391 $485,300 25,259

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about cost of living in Wisconsin

What is the cost of living in Wisconsin?
The average cost of living index across 96 cities in Wisconsin is 82 (US average = 100). Average rent is $1,110/month and median household income averages $82,564/year.
What is the cheapest city in Wisconsin?
The cheapest city in Wisconsin is Marinette with a cost index of 48, median rent of $763/month, and median income of $57,461/year.
What is the most expensive city in Wisconsin?
The most expensive city in Wisconsin is Mequon with a cost index of 152, median rent of $2,271/month, and median income of $147,391/year.
What are taxes like in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a top income tax rate of 7.65%, a sales tax of 5.0%, and an effective property tax rate of 1.61%.
How many cities does CostToLive cover in Wisconsin?
We track cost of living data for 96 cities in Wisconsin with populations of 10,000 or more, using US Census Bureau ACS 2023 data.