Salary Needed to Live in Kenosha as a Single

A single adult living independently needs approximately $56,006/year to live comfortably in Kenosha, WI, including 10% savings.

Direct Answer

A single person needs about $56,006/year to live comfortably in Kenosha, WI. The bare-minimum salary is $48,438/year, but the comfortable figure includes a 10% savings target and a monthly after-tax budget of $3,371.

The minimum scenario leaves about $2,987/mo after tax and no planned savings. The comfortable scenario uses $4,667/mo gross pay to cover expenses, taxes, and a savings buffer.

Hybrid salary estimateBLS, HUD, ACS inputsLast verified May 2026
Comfortable Salary
$56,006
with 10% savings
Bare Minimum
$48,438
$4,037/mo gross, no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$2,987
15% below national avg

Detailed Monthly Budget for a Single in Kenosha

ExpenseKenoshaNat'l AvgDiff
Studio/1BR Rent$830$1,351-39%
Groceries$265$207+28%
Utilities$172$169+2%
Transportation$311$316-2%
Car Insurance$159$211-25%
Health Insurance$657$630+4%
Internet$60$65-8%
Phone$78$85-8%
Dining & Social$276$300-8%
Entertainment$110$120-8%
Personal Care$69$75-8%
Total Monthly$2,987$3,529-15%

How We Calculated the Salary

Monthly expenses:$2,987
Target savings (10%):$384/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$3,371
Effective tax rate:26%

Gross annual salary needed:$56,006

What Drives the Salary Number?

Housing
$830

Studio/1BR rent is 28% of this monthly budget.

Taxes
26%

Estimated federal plus WI state tax reserve used to convert take-home needs into gross salary.

Savings target
10%

$384/mo is reserved for savings so the salary is not just break-even.

Local index
92/100

Kenosha is below the national baseline; the model adjusts baseline spending by local rent and cost data.

Compare Salary Needed in Nearby midwest Cities

Milwaukee, WI
$51,806/yr
$4,200 less than Kenosha
Lincoln, NE
$52,013/yr
$3,993 less than Kenosha
Indianapolis, IN
$52,725/yr
$3,281 less than Kenosha
Omaha, NE
$51,750/yr
$4,256 less than Kenosha

Salary Planning Checklist

  1. Keep studio/1br housing near $830/mo or adjust the salary target upward.
  2. Budget $593/mo for persona-specific costs such as Internet and Phone.
  3. Use $48,438/year as the survival floor and $56,006/year as the healthier negotiation target.

Other Household Types in Kenosha

Couple (No Kids)
$72,910/yr
$3,767/mo expenses
Family with Kids
$122,827/yr
$6,039/mo expenses
Retiree
$53,026/yr
$3,049/mo expenses

Related Pages

Living Alone in KenoshaCity OverviewRent in KenoshaMonthly BudgetAfford on $75K?Afford on $100K?Cost of Living

FAQ

What salary does a single person need in Kenosha?
A single person needs approximately $56,006/year ($4,667/month gross) to live comfortably in Kenosha with a 10% savings rate.
How much is rent for a single person in Kenosha?
A studio/1br in Kenosha costs approximately $830/month, which is the largest single expense at 28% of the total budget.
Is Kenosha affordable for a single person?
Yes, Kenosha is 15% more affordable than the national average for a single person.
Back to Kenosha