Wisconsin vs Minnesota: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Wisconsin or Minnesota?
- Overall, Minnesota is 4.8% more expensive than Wisconsin (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Wisconsin works out to about $78,600 in Minnesota, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 6.6% higher and other services 0.7% higher in Minnesota, while housing is 15.1% higher.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $62,039 in Minnesota and $58,273 in Wisconsin (6.5% higher in Minnesota; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 87.6 in St. Cloud, MN to 104.8 in Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota) and from 91.6 in Fond du Lac, WI to 101.1 in Kenosha, WI (Wisconsin), US = 100.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (4.5%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Wisconsin and Minnesota
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wisconsin | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.1 | 98.6 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 100.5 |
| Housing (rents) | 79.3 | 91.3 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 90.8 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 100.2 |
| Category | Wisconsin | Minnesota | Minnesota vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.1 | 98.6 | +4.8% |
| Goods | 94.3 | 100.5 | +6.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 79.3 | 91.3 | +15.1% |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 90.8 | +1.0% |
| Other services | 99.5 | 100.2 | +0.7% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $58,273 | $62,039 | +6.5% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.14 | $4.18 | +0.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Wisconsin | $75,000 | $78,600 | +4.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Midwest region average (EIA has no separate Wisconsin figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Wisconsin
- Duluth, MN 88.8
- Fond du Lac, WI 91.6
- La Crosse, WI 91.8
- Appleton, WI 92.4
- Wausau, WI 92.7
- Eau Claire, WI 92.8
- Oshkosh, WI 92.9
- Green Bay, WI 93.1
- Janesville, WI 93.7
- Sheboygan, WI 94.0
- Racine, WI 96.0
- Milwaukee, WI 96.9
- Madison, WI 97.3
- Kenosha, WI 101.1
- Minneapolis, MN 104.8
Minnesota
- Grand Forks, ND 86.7
- St. Cloud, MN 87.6
- Duluth, MN 88.8
- Sioux Falls, SD 90.6
- Rochester, MN 90.8
- Fargo, ND 90.9
- Mankato, MN 91.0
- La Crosse, WI 91.8
- Minneapolis, MN 104.8
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Wisconsin and Minnesota has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wisconsin | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.2 | 96.8 |
| 2009 | 94.1 | 98.7 |
| 2010 | 94.7 | 97.6 |
| 2011 | 93.7 | 97.2 |
| 2012 | 94.3 | 97.4 |
| 2013 | 93.9 | 97.5 |
| 2014 | 93.8 | 98.3 |
| 2015 | 93.3 | 97.7 |
| 2016 | 93.2 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 93.5 | 96.7 |
| 2018 | 94.0 | 99.6 |
| 2019 | 94.5 | 98.8 |
| 2020 | 92.7 | 97.8 |
| 2021 | 93.3 | 98.4 |
| 2022 | 92.4 | 97.5 |
| 2023 | 93.2 | 98.3 |
| 2024 | 94.1 | 98.6 |
Goods
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wisconsin | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.2 | 96.2 |
| 2009 | 94.9 | 99.7 |
| 2010 | 95.6 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 95.4 | 99.2 |
| 2012 | 96.8 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 96.1 | 98.5 |
| 2014 | 96.8 | 101.0 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 100.1 |
| 2016 | 97.3 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 97.4 | 100.0 |
| 2018 | 98.1 | 101.0 |
| 2019 | 96.7 | 100.5 |
| 2020 | 94.5 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 95.1 | 100.2 |
| 2022 | 92.5 | 99.9 |
| 2023 | 94.3 | 102.1 |
| 2024 | 94.3 | 100.5 |
Housing (rents)
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wisconsin | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 84.6 | 97.6 |
| 2009 | 83.7 | 95.9 |
| 2010 | 85.8 | 93.0 |
| 2011 | 86.3 | 92.6 |
| 2012 | 84.6 | 94.8 |
| 2013 | 82.5 | 94.9 |
| 2014 | 80.6 | 93.0 |
| 2015 | 81.2 | 97.2 |
| 2016 | 79.3 | 95.3 |
| 2017 | 81.9 | 95.4 |
| 2018 | 80.0 | 95.4 |
| 2019 | 79.4 | 97.5 |
| 2020 | 75.3 | 90.6 |
| 2021 | 76.1 | 93.1 |
| 2022 | 77.5 | 97.3 |
| 2023 | 78.3 | 90.7 |
| 2024 | 79.3 | 91.3 |
Utilities
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wisconsin | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.1 | 84.8 |
| 2009 | 98.4 | 84.1 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 83.6 |
| 2011 | 96.7 | 82.8 |
| 2012 | 96.2 | 85.7 |
| 2013 | 98.3 | 85.9 |
| 2014 | 95.9 | 87.2 |
| 2015 | 96.7 | 86.1 |
| 2016 | 96.7 | 90.2 |
| 2017 | 97.0 | 90.6 |
| 2018 | 97.8 | 96.4 |
| 2019 | 93.0 | 92.7 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 91.9 |
| 2021 | 95.4 | 92.1 |
| 2022 | 89.9 | 89.1 |
| 2023 | 89.5 | 89.4 |
| 2024 | 89.9 | 90.8 |
Other services
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Wisconsin | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.2 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 97.0 | 99.8 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 99.5 |
| 2011 | 94.9 | 98.2 |
| 2012 | 95.9 | 97.4 |
| 2013 | 96.1 | 98.3 |
| 2014 | 96.1 | 98.9 |
| 2015 | 93.9 | 97.0 |
| 2016 | 95.1 | 97.4 |
| 2017 | 94.7 | 95.6 |
| 2018 | 95.9 | 100.2 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 98.0 | 99.6 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 99.2 |
| 2022 | 97.8 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 98.0 | 98.9 |
| 2024 | 99.5 | 100.2 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $62,039 in Minnesota, $58,273 in Wisconsin
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Wisconsin | Minnesota | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $46,816 | $49,842 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $45,628 | $46,732 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $45,606 | $48,225 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $47,272 | $50,086 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $47,889 | $51,554 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $47,526 | $50,857 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $48,532 | $51,761 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $50,684 | $54,124 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $50,991 | $54,535 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $51,773 | $55,771 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $52,759 | $55,408 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $53,652 | $56,749 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $57,378 | $60,139 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $59,816 | $63,244 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $57,706 | $61,533 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $57,791 | $61,394 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $58,273 | $62,039 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Wisconsin
- Cost of living in Minnesota
- Reverse: moving from Minnesota to Wisconsin
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.