What is the cost of living in Appleton, WI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Appleton has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Wisconsin, Appleton has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Wisconsin's index of 98.
The standard of living in Appleton ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Appleton ranks as the #101 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in Appleton, check out:
Appleton Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Appleton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Appleton is 96.
The Groceries index in Appleton is 96.
The Health index in Appleton is 83.
The Housing index in Appleton is 100.
The Transportation index in Appleton is 103.
The Utilities index in Appleton is 95.
| Living Expense | Appleton | Wisconsin | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 83 | 91 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 100 | 100 |
Appleton Cost Of Living Compared To Wisconsin Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Appleton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Appleton, WI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Wisconsin, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Appleton is $297,642.
The Median Rent in Appleton is $1,030.
The Median Income in Appleton is $80,483.
The Home Value To Income in Appleton is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Appleton is 0.15x.
Appleton, WI Costs By Category
Detailed Appleton Services costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Appleton Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Appleton Health costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Appleton Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
Appleton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Appleton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Appleton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Raymore, MO has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Appleton.
Warrensburg, MO has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Appleton.
Harrisonville, MO has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Appleton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymore, MO | 24,526 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Warrensburg, MO | 19,582 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Harrisonville, MO | 9,970 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Clinton, MO | 9,065 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Pleasant Hill, MO | 8,847 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Nevada, MO | 7,925 | 81 | 0.9x |
| Fort Scott, KS | 7,555 | 80 | 0.9x |
| Greenwood, MO | 6,013 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Louisburg, KS | 5,094 | 101 | 1.1x |
