What it actually costs to live in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s cost-of-living index sits at 98 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #29 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Wisconsin costs about 2% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $315,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,210/mo.
Wisconsin cost components
| Component | Wisconsin | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 98 | 100 |
| Median home price | $315,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,210/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $179/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Wisconsin compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Wisconsin ranks #29 for cost. That places Wisconsin in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Wisconsin metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Milwaukee has very different housing dynamics than smaller Wisconsin metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- MilwaukeeCOL 90 · home $225,000rent $1,195/mo →
- MadisonCOL 102 · home $380,000rent $1,499/mo →
- Green BayCOL 87 · home $225,000rent $900/mo →
- AppletonCOL 88 · home $235,000rent $900/mo →
More Wisconsin metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Wisconsin cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's MERIC cost-of-living index is 98 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Wisconsin costs about 2% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's state-level median home price is approximately $315,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,210/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Wisconsin-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Wisconsin COL index ~95; Madison has elevated housing prices driven by university + state-government employment; rural northern WI remains very affordable.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.