Yakima, WA vs Kenosha, WI: cost of living compared

Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).

The short answer

  • Overall, Kenosha, WI is 5.8% more expensive than Yakima, WA (BEA, 2024).
  • To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Yakima works out to about $79,400 in Kenosha, before taxes.
  • Most of the difference is housing, which costs 31.9% more in Kenosha. Goods are 1.1% higher and other services 0.9% higher.
  • Zillow does not publish typical rent for Kenosha, so rents are not compared here.
  • The gap is about where it was in 2019 (5.3%).

derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.

Try your own salary

18% matches BEA's average basket. Set your own share if housing takes more or less of your budget.

Category by category

Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.

Housing drives the gap: 31.9% higher in Kenosha than in Yakima

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

  • Yakima, WA
  • Kenosha, WI
All items
Yakima, WA: 95.5 Kenosha, WI: 101.1
Goods
Yakima, WA: 105.0 Kenosha, WI: 106.2
Housing (rents)
Yakima, WA: 72.6 Kenosha, WI: 95.8
Utilities
Yakima, WA: 91.9 Kenosha, WI: 85.9
Other services
Yakima, WA: 99.5 Kenosha, WI: 100.3

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Yakima, WAKenosha, WI
All items95.5101.1
Goods105.0106.2
Housing (rents)72.695.8
Utilities91.985.9
Other services99.5100.3
CategoryYakimaKenoshaKenosha vs Yakima
All items 95.5 101.1 +5.8%
Goods 105.0 106.2 +1.1%
Housing (rents) 72.6 95.8 +31.9%
Utilities 91.9 85.9 −6.6%
Other services 99.5 100.3 +0.9%
Salary to match $75,000 in Yakima $75,000 $79,400 +5.8%

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 Yakima and Kenosha has narrowed since 2008: 10.7 points then, 5.6 now

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

  • Yakima, WA
  • Kenosha, WI
US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Yakima, WAKenosha, WI
200893.0103.7
200996.4102.9
201095.6100.1
201198.1103.1
201297.199.3
201397.0100.1
201496.8101.3
201594.5101.0
201694.4100.2
201794.9102.5
201897.2100.9
201996.8101.9
202096.299.4
202197.7101.5
2022100.8102.5
202397.9100.5
202495.5101.1

Goods

  • Yakima, WA
  • Kenosha, WI
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Yakima, WAKenosha, WI
200895.4103.6
2009101.4105.1
201097.8104.4
201199.2104.9
201299.7102.7
201397.7101.6
201496.0101.5
201594.999.4
201693.999.6
201799.5102.6
2018104.8103.8
2019104.7104.7
2020104.5103.3
2021106.6105.6
2022109.4106.1
2023104.9103.7
2024105.0106.2

Housing (rents)

  • Yakima, WA
  • Kenosha, WI
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Yakima, WAKenosha, WI
200879.0109.1
200980.598.2
201082.984.2
201185.496.0
201280.980.6
201387.190.3
201486.0101.0
201577.1101.5
201679.687.9
201775.694.3
201876.288.0
201976.3103.5
202075.483.1
202184.386.8
202283.992.3
202380.091.7
202472.695.8

Utilities

  • Yakima, WA
  • Kenosha, WI
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Yakima, WAKenosha, WI
200873.0102.6
200974.8102.6
201081.797.5
201183.1100.2
201285.497.0
201382.893.6
201482.6100.8
201586.2103.3
201683.2102.1
201779.6101.0
201885.498.8
201988.388.1
202087.890.7
202189.788.1
202283.885.4
202381.383.1
202491.985.9

Other services

  • Yakima, WA
  • Kenosha, WI
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Yakima, WAKenosha, WI
200898.3102.2
2009101.1103.2
2010100.2102.8
2011103.5104.5
2012102.6104.4
2013101.9103.4
2014102.6101.3
2015101.2101.8
2016100.9104.4
2017101.1105.2
2018103.4103.6
2019101.6100.4
2020100.7103.7
202198.8104.5
2022103.8104.3
2023102.6102.2
202499.5100.3

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.