Cost of living in Wisconsin
Prices in Wisconsin are 5.9% below the US average (32nd highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,944 in state income tax. State sales tax: 5%.
Price levels in Wisconsin
| BEA RPP 2024 | Wisconsin | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.1 | −5.9% |
| Goods | 94.3 | −5.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 79.3 | −20.7% |
| Utilities | 89.9 | −10.1% |
| Other services | 99.5 | −0.5% |
Metros in Wisconsin
Metros whose principal city is in Wisconsin. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 1,575,010 | 96.9 | $1,263 | $293 | $1,400 |
| Madison, WI | 709,685 | 97.3 | $1,565 | $293 | $1,085 |
| Green Bay, WI | 336,756 | 93.1 | $1,287 | $293 | $1,432 |
| Appleton, WI | 249,876 | 92.4 | $1,256 | $236 | $1,474 |
| Racine, WI | 198,919 | 96.0 | $1,283 | $293 | $1,424 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 176,647 | 92.8 | $1,259 | $293 | $1,443 |
| Oshkosh, WI | 174,218 | 92.9 | $1,195 | $293 | $1,524 |
| La Crosse, WI-MN | 171,182 | 91.8 | $1,343 | $293 | $1,432 |
| Kenosha, WI | 168,448 | 101.1 | $1,441 | $293 | $1,191 |
| Janesville, WI | 166,472 | 93.7 | $1,280 | $293 | $1,462 |
| Wausau, WI | 139,432 | 92.7 | $1,217 | $236 | $1,520 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 118,047 | 94.0 | $1,168 | $236 | $1,542 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 104,669 | 91.6 | $1,224 | $236 | $1,477 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Wisconsin: Minneapolis, MN-WI, Duluth, MN-WI.
Taxes in Wisconsin (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Wisconsin income tax | $1,577 | $2,944 | $5,615 | $4,991 |
| Wisconsin payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,398 | $4,887 | $7,303 | $8,349 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Wisconsin’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,944 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Wisconsin
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $210 | $13,349 | $155 |
| Toddler (2) | $190 | $12,077 | $150 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $190 | $12,077 | $150 |
| School-age (5–12) | $164 | $10,425 | $140 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $182 a week in Waushara County to $293 in Brown County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 72 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee County | $230,700 | $4,444 | 1.93% |
| Racine County | $251,400 | $4,099 | 1.63% |
| Winnebago County | $225,800 | $3,679 | 1.63% |
| Dane County | $394,800 | $6,420 | 1.63% |
| Green County | $250,200 | $4,003 | 1.60% |
| Oconto County | $231,400 | $2,727 | 1.18% |
| St. Croix County | $377,700 | $4,420 | 1.17% |
| Waukesha County | $398,200 | $4,554 | 1.14% |
| Washington County | $344,800 | $3,802 | 1.10% |
| Chippewa County | $257,900 | $2,798 | 1.08% |
Five highest and five lowest of 27 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Wisconsin
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 116,098 in, 106,414 out (net +9,684).
- Minnesota20,316 ±3,235
- Illinois14,131 ±2,749
- Florida8,210 ±2,433
- Texas5,934 ±2,517
- Michigan5,826 ±1,911
- Arizona5,018 ±1,728
- California4,050 ±1,636
- North Carolina3,870 ±1,880
Frequently asked questions
Is Wisconsin expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Wisconsin’s overall price level at 94.1 in 2024 (US = 100), the 32nd highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 79.3 and goods 94.3.
Does Wisconsin have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,944 in Wisconsin income tax under 2026 law (3.9% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Wisconsin?+
The state rate is 5% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Wisconsin?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Sheboygan, WI leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,542), and Madison, WI the least ($1,085).