USA Cost of Living Compare US cities and states with official data

Cost of living in Wisconsin

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 94.1 5.9% less expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 32nd 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 79.3 32nd highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $58,273 26th of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in Wisconsin are 5.9% below the national average, the 32nd most expensive of 51 states and DC (BEA 2024).
  • Housing is the main reason prices in Wisconsin differ from the national level: housing costs (rents) are 20.7% below the US average, while goods are 5.7% below average and other services about average.
  • Within Wisconsin, metro price levels run from 88.8 in Duluth, MN to 104.8 in Minneapolis, MN (US = 100).
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $58,273 in 2017 dollars, 26th of 51 (BEA 2024).
  • Relative to the US, the price level in Wisconsin has barely moved: 93.2 in 2008, 94.5 in 2019 and 94.1 in 2024.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In Wisconsin, housing is the category furthest from the US average: 20.7% below

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

All items
94.1
Goods
94.3
Housing (rents)
79.3
Utilities
89.9
Other services
99.5

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

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

Show the numbers
Wisconsin
All items94.1
Goods94.3
Housing (rents)79.3
Utilities89.9
Other services99.5

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $4.14 a gallon in the Midwest region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.14 less than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for Wisconsin, so this is the regional average. official

Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in Wisconsin

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 15 metro areas BEA measures in Wisconsin are Duluth, MN (88.8), Fond du Lac, WI (91.6) and La Crosse, WI (91.8); the most expensive is Minneapolis, MN (104.8). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

Duluth, MN is the cheapest metro area in Wisconsin (88.8); Minneapolis, MN the most expensive (104.8)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

Duluth, MN Spans MN, WI
88.8
Fond du Lac, WI
91.6
La Crosse, WI Spans WI, MN
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 Spans MN, WI
104.8

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

Show the numbers
All items
Duluth, MN88.8
Fond du Lac, WI91.6
La Crosse, WI91.8
Appleton, WI92.4
Wausau, WI92.7
Eau Claire, WI92.8
Oshkosh, WI92.9
Green Bay, WI93.1
Janesville, WI93.7
Sheboygan, WI94.0
Racine, WI96.0
Milwaukee, WI96.9
Madison, WI97.3
Kenosha, WI101.1
Minneapolis, MN104.8
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
Duluth, MN 88.8 71.1 95.3 87.3 92.2 $1,329
Fond du Lac, WI 91.6 67.3 93.8 91.1 99.4 $1,128
La Crosse, WI 91.8 69.4 93.8 89.5 99.4 $1,353
Appleton, WI 92.4 70.8 93.8 90.6 99.4 $1,197
Wausau, WI 92.7 71.5 93.8 90.0 99.4 $960
Eau Claire, WI 92.8 72.9 93.8 90.9 99.4 $1,147
Oshkosh, WI 92.9 74.4 93.8 90.6 99.4 $1,278
Green Bay, WI 93.1 74.7 93.8 90.0 99.4 $1,119
Janesville, WI 93.7 79.6 93.8 90.4 99.4 $1,292
Sheboygan, WI 94.0 80.5 93.8 87.6 99.4 $1,344
Racine, WI 96.0 92.0 93.8 90.0 99.4 $1,460
Milwaukee, WI 96.9 97.1 93.8 91.6 99.4 $1,549
Madison, WI 97.3 99.7 93.8 89.8 99.4 $1,780
Kenosha, WI 101.1 95.8 106.2 85.9 100.3 n/a
Minneapolis, MN 104.8 111.8 103.1 93.5 104.4 $1,736

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

Wisconsin has stayed below the US average since 2008

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

US average = 100

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

Show the numbers
Wisconsin
200893.2
200994.1
201094.7
201193.7
201294.3
201393.9
201493.8
201593.3
201693.2
201793.5
201894.0
201994.5
202092.7
202193.3
202292.4
202393.2
202494.1

Goods: 91.2 in 2008, 94.3 in 2024

US = 100

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

Show the numbers
Wisconsin
200891.2
200994.9
201095.6
201195.4
201296.8
201396.1
201496.8
201598.4
201697.3
201797.4
201898.1
201996.7
202094.5
202195.1
202292.5
202394.3
202494.3

Housing (rents): 84.6 in 2008, 79.3 in 2024

US = 100

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

Show the numbers
Wisconsin
200884.6
200983.7
201085.8
201186.3
201284.6
201382.5
201480.6
201581.2
201679.3
201781.9
201880.0
201979.4
202075.3
202176.1
202277.5
202378.3
202479.3

Utilities: 99.1 in 2008, 89.9 in 2024

US = 100

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

Show the numbers
Wisconsin
200899.1
200998.4
201099.7
201196.7
201296.2
201398.3
201495.9
201596.7
201696.7
201797.0
201897.8
201993.0
202093.9
202195.4
202289.9
202389.5
202489.9

Other services: 97.2 in 2008, 99.5 in 2024

US = 100

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

Show the numbers
Wisconsin
200897.2
200997.0
201097.0
201194.9
201295.9
201396.1
201496.1
201593.9
201695.1
201794.7
201895.9
201998.3
202098.0
202198.1
202297.8
202398.0
202499.5

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in Wisconsin is $58,273, 26th of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • Wisconsin
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
WisconsinUnited States
2008$46,816$45,816
2009$45,628$44,204
2010$45,606$44,808
2011$47,272$45,957
2012$47,889$46,796
2013$47,526$46,358
2014$48,532$47,661
2015$50,684$49,396
2016$50,991$49,828
2017$51,773$51,006
2018$52,759$52,242
2019$53,652$53,683
2020$57,378$56,514
2021$59,816$59,365
2022$57,706$57,104
2023$57,791$58,088
2024$58,273$59,195

Compare Wisconsin with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

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Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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