Wausau, WI vs South Bend, IN: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in South Bend, IN and Wausau, WI are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Wausau works out to about $75,200 in South Bend, before taxes.
- Housing is 4.4% higher in South Bend, goods 0.5% higher and other services 0.2% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,258 a month in South Bend and $960 in Wausau, $3,576 a year more in South Bend (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $238,000 in South Bend and $271,000 in Wausau.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.0%).
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 Wausau and South Bend
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Wausau, WI
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wausau, WI | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | 92.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 94.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 71.5 | 74.6 |
| Utilities | 90.0 | 87.7 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.2 |
| Category | Wausau | South Bend | South Bend vs Wausau |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | 92.9 | +0.2% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 94.2 | +0.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 71.5 | 74.6 | +4.4% |
| Utilities | 90.0 | 87.7 | −2.5% |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.2 | −0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $960 | $1,258 | +31.0% |
| Typical home value | $271,000 | $238,000 | −12.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Wausau | $75,000 | $75,200 | +0.2% |
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 Wausau and South Bend has narrowed since 2008: 2.3 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Wausau, WI
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wausau, WI | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.8 | 92.4 |
| 2009 | 95.0 | 93.3 |
| 2010 | 94.6 | 92.9 |
| 2011 | 93.3 | 92.2 |
| 2012 | 94.1 | 90.4 |
| 2013 | 94.3 | 92.3 |
| 2014 | 90.7 | 92.0 |
| 2015 | 92.5 | 90.5 |
| 2016 | 92.0 | 91.4 |
| 2017 | 91.1 | 88.6 |
| 2018 | 92.2 | 91.9 |
| 2019 | 93.0 | 92.1 |
| 2020 | 90.2 | 91.5 |
| 2021 | 91.2 | 91.7 |
| 2022 | 91.8 | 92.3 |
| 2023 | 90.7 | 91.4 |
| 2024 | 92.7 | 92.9 |
Goods
- Wausau, WI
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wausau, WI | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 94.6 |
| 2009 | 97.9 | 95.7 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 96.1 |
| 2011 | 95.9 | 96.0 |
| 2012 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 98.7 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 97.6 |
| 2016 | 97.6 | 96.8 |
| 2017 | 95.5 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 97.8 | 97.4 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 94.2 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 92.9 |
| 2023 | 93.8 | 94.7 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 94.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Wausau, WI
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wausau, WI | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 71.7 | 75.0 |
| 2009 | 75.2 | 75.8 |
| 2010 | 78.7 | 76.0 |
| 2011 | 76.2 | 78.3 |
| 2012 | 78.8 | 66.2 |
| 2013 | 77.0 | 74.6 |
| 2014 | 60.7 | 71.6 |
| 2015 | 74.3 | 70.5 |
| 2016 | 71.3 | 72.9 |
| 2017 | 69.9 | 64.5 |
| 2018 | 68.9 | 70.5 |
| 2019 | 72.0 | 70.4 |
| 2020 | 63.7 | 73.2 |
| 2021 | 66.1 | 69.6 |
| 2022 | 74.9 | 76.6 |
| 2023 | 66.0 | 71.5 |
| 2024 | 71.5 | 74.6 |
Utilities
- Wausau, WI
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wausau, WI | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 89.4 |
| 2009 | 102.1 | 92.3 |
| 2010 | 101.8 | 86.4 |
| 2011 | 102.3 | 90.3 |
| 2012 | 101.4 | 90.2 |
| 2013 | 100.1 | 89.7 |
| 2014 | 96.7 | 85.6 |
| 2015 | 93.7 | 85.9 |
| 2016 | 91.4 | 84.1 |
| 2017 | 94.6 | 88.9 |
| 2018 | 97.4 | 92.7 |
| 2019 | 93.1 | 90.7 |
| 2020 | 92.6 | 92.3 |
| 2021 | 94.8 | 93.1 |
| 2022 | 90.0 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 89.9 | 86.1 |
| 2024 | 90.0 | 87.7 |
Other services
- Wausau, WI
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wausau, WI | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.8 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 99.4 | 98.5 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 97.9 |
| 2011 | 96.6 | 95.1 |
| 2012 | 96.8 | 95.8 |
| 2013 | 98.1 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 96.4 | 95.8 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 94.0 |
| 2016 | 96.0 | 94.9 |
| 2017 | 95.1 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 96.1 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 97.7 | 97.6 |
| 2021 | 97.9 | 97.8 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 99.4 | 99.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,258 in South Bend vs $960 in Wausau
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Wausau, WI
- South Bend, IN
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Wausau, WI | South Bend, IN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $635 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $645 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $633 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $638 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $655 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $656 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $660 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $657 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $672 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $685 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $698 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $708 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $707 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $730 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $733 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $739 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $732 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $767 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $770 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $756 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $772 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $801 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $825 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $834 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $878 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | $916 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | $947 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | $972 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $765 | $982 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $803 | $1,032 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $810 | $1,051 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $806 | $1,058 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $816 | $1,068 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $834 | $1,112 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $839 | $1,137 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $828 | $1,115 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $824 | $1,127 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $855 | $1,142 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $872 | $1,168 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $851 | $1,186 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $886 | $1,189 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $895 | $1,204 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $902 | $1,236 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $907 | $1,232 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $935 | $1,240 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $961 | $1,269 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $960 | $1,258 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $238,000 in South Bend vs $271,000 in Wausau
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Wausau, WI
- South Bend, IN
- 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
| Wausau, WI | South Bend, IN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $130K | $103K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $132K | $105K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $134K | $106K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $135K | $108K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $136K | $110K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $137K | $112K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $139K | $114K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $141K | $117K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $143K | $117K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $144K | $119K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $145K | $121K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $147K | $124K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $149K | $127K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $152K | $129K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $155K | $130K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $156K | $133K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $159K | $136K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $163K | $138K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $166K | $139K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $170K | $142K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $170K | $145K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $172K | $148K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $178K | $150K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $181K | $156K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $182K | $163K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $188K | $171K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $193K | $174K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $194K | $176K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $199K | $186K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $206K | $194K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $204K | $195K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $205K | $195K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $212K | $196K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $220K | $202K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $225K | $206K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $225K | $207K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $227K | $210K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $234K | $215K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $236K | $216K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $241K | $218K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $246K | $221K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $248K | $222K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $249K | $224K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $257K | $226K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $267K | $231K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $269K | $235K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $271K | $238K | $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.