Cost of Living in Wisconsin (WI)
Compare costs across 10 Wisconsin cities. From home services to salaries, see how WI stacks up against the national average.
Is Wisconsin Affordable?
Wisconsin's average cost index is 89, which is below the national baseline of 100. Oshkosh is the most affordable tracked city in WI at index 84, while Madison is the most expensive at index 104.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 20 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Wisconsin is below the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Oshkosh has a cost index of 84.
Madison has a cost index of 104.
Average median household income across 10 tracked WI cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Wisconsin
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 577K | 91 | $43K | large |
| Madison | 270K | 104 | $68K | mid |
| Green Bay | 107K | 88 | $47K | small |
| Kenosha | 100K | 92 | $52K | small |
| Racine | 78K | 86 | $42K | small |
| Appleton | 76K | 90 | $56K | small |
| Eau Claire | 69K | 86 | $46K | small |
| Oshkosh | 67K | 84 | $47K | small |
| Janesville | 66K | 86 | $53K | small |
| La Crosse | 53K | 84 | $42K | small |
Wisconsin State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Wisconsin.
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Oshkosh if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Wisconsin.
- Compare Madison against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.
Cost by Category Across Wisconsin
Business Startup Costs
Legal Services
Compare Cities Within Wisconsin
Explore Other States
Popular Wisconsin cost & affordability searches
- → Cost of living in Milwaukee, WI
- → Cost of living in Madison, WI
- → Cost of living in Green Bay, WI
- → Cost of living in Kenosha, WI
- → Cost of living in Racine, WI
- → Cost of living in Appleton, WI
- → Average rent in Milwaukee, WI
- → Average rent in Madison, WI
- → Average rent in Green Bay, WI
- → Salary needed to live in Milwaukee
- → Salary needed to live in Madison
- → Salary needed to live in Green Bay
Frequently Asked Questions: Wisconsin Cost of Living
What is the cost of living in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's average cost-of-living index is 89, which is 11% below the U.S. baseline of 100. Across 10 tracked cities, costs span from index 84 in Oshkosh to 104 in Madison.
What is the cheapest city to live in Wisconsin?
Oshkosh is the most affordable tracked city in Wisconsin, with a cost index of 84 — roughly 16% below the national average.
What is the most expensive city in Wisconsin?
Madison is the most expensive tracked city in Wisconsin, at a cost index of 104. The gap between Oshkosh and Madison is 20 index points, so always budget at the city level.
What is the average household income in Wisconsin?
The average median household income across 10 tracked Wisconsin cities is about $49,585 per year.
Does Wisconsin have a state income tax?
Yes. Wisconsin levies a progressive state income tax at 3.5-7.65%, which affects your real take-home pay.
How much is sales tax in Wisconsin?
The combined sales tax in Wisconsin averages 5.43% — 5% at the state level plus 0.43% in average local tax.