Cost of Living in Wisconsin
Updated November 2026 · population 5,914,872
Wisconsin prices are 5.9% below the US average (index 94.1), ranking 32nd most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest saving at 79.3, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,378 a month.
Prices by category
Wisconsin price index by category, US average = 100: All items 94.1, Housing (rents) 79.3, Goods 94.3, Utilities 89.9, Other services 99.5
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin (whole state) | 94.1 |
| Metropolitan areas of Wisconsin | 95.6 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Wisconsin | 89.6 |
Cities in Wisconsin
Select a column heading to sort.
| Milwaukee | 566,973 | 94.6 | $2,346 | $4,779 | $1,059 | $184,000 |
| Madison | 278,001 | 98.5 | $2,786 | $5,413 | $1,413 | $372,900 |
| Green Bay | 106,253 | 91.9 | $2,257 | $4,801 | $932 | $207,200 |
| Kenosha | 99,372 | 100.9 | $2,543 | $5,231 | $1,186 | $225,200 |
| Racine | 77,633 | 95.0 | $2,219 | $4,723 | $1,033 | $166,500 |
| Appleton | 75,023 | 91.6 | $2,246 | $4,843 | $1,030 | $231,400 |
| Waukesha | 71,233 | 96.9 | $2,517 | $5,066 | $1,219 | $315,500 |
| Eau Claire | 70,322 | 92.7 | $2,319 | $4,898 | $1,045 | $247,600 |
| Oshkosh | 66,729 | 92.6 | $2,305 | $4,818 | $935 | $177,700 |
| Janesville | 66,030 | 94.0 | $2,315 | $4,925 | $1,054 | $223,400 |
| West Allis | 59,612 | 93.9 | $2,388 | $4,858 | $1,007 | $203,800 |
| La Crosse | 51,356 | 91.7 | $2,332 | $4,799 | $1,010 | $210,100 |
| Marshfield | 18,700 | 90.0 | $2,188 | $4,564 | $842 | $177,800 |
Metro areas in Wisconsin
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 104.8 | 111.8 |
| Kenosha, WI | 101.1 | 95.8 |
| Madison, WI | 97.3 | 99.7 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 96.9 | 97.1 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 96.0 | 92.0 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 94.0 | 80.5 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 93.7 | 79.6 |
| Green Bay, WI | 93.1 | 74.7 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 92.9 | 74.4 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 92.8 | 72.8 |
| Wausau, WI | 92.7 | 71.5 |
| Appleton, WI | 92.4 | 70.8 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 91.8 | 69.4 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 91.6 | 67.3 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 88.8 | 71.1 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Wisconsin.
Modelled monthly budget at Wisconsin average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Wisconsin (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $775 | $9,300 | 33% |
| Utilities | $228 | $2,736 | 10% |
| Food at home | $266 | $3,192 | 11% |
| Transportation | $599 | $7,188 | 25% |
| Health care | $350 | $4,200 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $160 | $1,920 | 7% |
| Total | $2,378 | $28,536 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Wisconsin (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $943 | $11,316 | 24% |
| Utilities | $364 | $4,368 | 9% |
| Food at home | $491 | $5,892 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,184 | $14,208 | 30% |
| Health care | $648 | $7,776 | 16% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $315 | $3,780 | 8% |
| Total | $3,945 | $47,340 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Wisconsin (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,100 | $13,200 | 23% |
| Utilities | $443 | $5,316 | 9% |
| Food at home | $700 | $8,400 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,577 | $18,924 | 33% |
| Health care | $604 | $7,248 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $406 | $4,872 | 8% |
| Total | $4,830 | $57,960 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
19.41¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +5.3% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Midwest (PADD 2)
$4.10/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +45.0% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the Midwest region rose +4.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 94.5 | 92.7 | 93.3 | 92.4 | 93.2 | 94.1 |
Change over the period: −0.4 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wisconsin an expensive state to live in?
Wisconsin has a cost of living index of 94.1 (US = 100), 5.9% below the US average. It ranks 32nd of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 79.3 (rank 32), goods 94.3, utilities 89.9 and other services 99.5. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Wisconsin?
At Wisconsin state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,378 for a single adult, $3,945 for a couple and $4,830 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 95.6 and nonmetro areas 89.6.
What is the median rent and home value in Wisconsin?
The median gross rent in Wisconsin is $1,087 a month and the median home value is $266,500 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 27.2% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 55.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, Midwest region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology