Janesville, WI vs Traverse City, MI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Traverse City, MI and Janesville, WI are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Janesville works out to about $74,700 in Traverse City, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.8% lower in Traverse City, goods 0.1% lower and other services 0.2% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,853 a month in Traverse City and $1,292 in Janesville, $6,732 a year more in Traverse City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $419,000 in Traverse City and $297,000 in Janesville.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.6%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Janesville and Traverse City
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Janesville, WI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Janesville, WI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.7 | 93.4 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 79.6 | 78.1 |
| Utilities | 90.4 | 92.4 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 |
| Category | Janesville | Traverse City | Traverse City vs Janesville |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.7 | 93.4 | −0.4% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.7 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 79.6 | 78.1 | −1.8% |
| Utilities | 90.4 | 92.4 | +2.2% |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 | +0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,292 | $1,853 | +43.4% |
| Typical home value | $297,000 | $419,000 | +41.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Janesville | $75,000 | $74,700 | −0.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Janesville and Traverse City has narrowed since 2008: 9.2 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Janesville, WI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Janesville, WI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.5 | 85.3 |
| 2009 | 94.7 | 89.4 |
| 2010 | 96.2 | 94.2 |
| 2011 | 94.7 | 88.2 |
| 2012 | 95.0 | 91.7 |
| 2013 | 94.4 | 90.0 |
| 2014 | 95.4 | 90.1 |
| 2015 | 92.8 | 91.2 |
| 2016 | 92.8 | 89.7 |
| 2017 | 92.5 | 88.9 |
| 2018 | 94.0 | 92.7 |
| 2019 | 94.1 | 93.6 |
| 2020 | 91.6 | 90.4 |
| 2021 | 93.0 | 93.4 |
| 2022 | 91.8 | 93.3 |
| 2023 | 91.5 | 90.6 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.4 |
Goods
- Janesville, WI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Janesville, WI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 76.8 |
| 2009 | 97.9 | 84.7 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 93.4 |
| 2011 | 95.9 | 94.1 |
| 2012 | 97.1 | 95.3 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 94.7 |
| 2014 | 98.7 | 95.6 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 96.0 |
| 2016 | 97.6 | 94.4 |
| 2017 | 95.5 | 93.7 |
| 2018 | 97.8 | 97.1 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 94.2 | 93.7 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.4 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 92.1 |
| 2023 | 93.8 | 94.1 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Janesville, WI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Janesville, WI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 71.7 | 80.8 |
| 2009 | 76.2 | 84.6 |
| 2010 | 86.4 | 93.4 |
| 2011 | 85.6 | 71.3 |
| 2012 | 84.8 | 79.8 |
| 2013 | 76.7 | 75.0 |
| 2014 | 85.8 | 74.2 |
| 2015 | 75.3 | 84.8 |
| 2016 | 75.5 | 80.5 |
| 2017 | 79.4 | 80.5 |
| 2018 | 80.1 | 78.0 |
| 2019 | 78.4 | 79.5 |
| 2020 | 69.9 | 70.8 |
| 2021 | 76.5 | 81.4 |
| 2022 | 77.0 | 83.8 |
| 2023 | 70.7 | 69.5 |
| 2024 | 79.6 | 78.1 |
Utilities
- Janesville, WI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Janesville, WI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.6 | 86.4 |
| 2009 | 105.1 | 92.4 |
| 2010 | 101.7 | 100.6 |
| 2011 | 103.1 | 95.0 |
| 2012 | 101.4 | 98.0 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 95.7 | 92.8 |
| 2015 | 91.9 | 93.4 |
| 2016 | 88.4 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 94.8 | 93.4 |
| 2018 | 98.9 | 97.2 |
| 2019 | 93.2 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 93.7 | 97.9 |
| 2021 | 95.4 | 98.7 |
| 2022 | 90.9 | 92.4 |
| 2023 | 90.5 | 92.0 |
| 2024 | 90.4 | 92.4 |
Other services
- Janesville, WI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Janesville, WI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.8 | 94.5 |
| 2009 | 99.4 | 95.0 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 94.8 |
| 2011 | 96.6 | 92.5 |
| 2012 | 96.8 | 94.7 |
| 2013 | 98.1 | 93.5 |
| 2014 | 96.4 | 94.1 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 91.1 |
| 2016 | 96.0 | 90.4 |
| 2017 | 95.1 | 89.7 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 96.5 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 98.6 |
| 2020 | 97.7 | 97.8 |
| 2021 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2024 | 99.4 | 99.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,853 in Traverse City vs $1,292 in Janesville
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Janesville, WI
- Traverse City, MI
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Janesville, WI | Traverse City, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $969 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,000 | $1,454 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,001 | $1,435 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $998 | $1,430 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,023 | $1,473 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,063 | $1,638 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,075 | $1,591 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,073 | $1,528 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,095 | $1,666 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,101 | $1,681 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,153 | $1,661 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,137 | $1,609 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,169 | $1,677 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,200 | $1,756 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,213 | $1,774 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,229 | $1,695 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,257 | $1,785 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,270 | $1,852 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,292 | $1,853 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $419,000 in Traverse City vs $297,000 in Janesville
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Janesville, WI
- Traverse City, MI
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Janesville, WI | Traverse City, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $124K | $196K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $126K | $197K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $127K | $199K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $129K | $203K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $132K | $207K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $134K | $208K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $136K | $208K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $139K | $211K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $142K | $216K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $146K | $220K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $149K | $223K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $151K | $226K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $154K | $231K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $157K | $234K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $161K | $238K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $163K | $240K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $167K | $243K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $170K | $244K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $170K | $246K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $173K | $250K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $177K | $257K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $179K | $256K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $183K | $261K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $191K | $276K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $198K | $294K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $207K | $315K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $213K | $327K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $216K | $332K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $222K | $347K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $230K | $366K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $230K | $367K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $231K | $366K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $237K | $367K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $243K | $380K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $247K | $388K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $249K | $388K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $254K | $392K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $261K | $398K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $263K | $402K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $267K | $407K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $273K | $407K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $276K | $408K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $279K | $407K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $285K | $410K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $292K | $415K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $294K | $417K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $297K | $419K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.