What is the cost of living in Cottage Grove, WI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cottage Grove has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Wisconsin, Cottage Grove has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Wisconsin's index of 98.
The standard of living in Cottage Grove ranks as #127 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Cottage Grove ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in Cottage Grove, check out:
Cottage Grove Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cottage Grove. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cottage Grove is 97.
The Groceries index in Cottage Grove is 99.
The Health index in Cottage Grove is 151.
The Housing index in Cottage Grove is 99.
The Transportation index in Cottage Grove is 101.
The Utilities index in Cottage Grove is 101.
| Living Expense | Cottage Grove | Wisconsin | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 151 | 91 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 100 | 100 |
Cottage Grove 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 Cottage Grove Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cottage Grove, 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 Cottage Grove is $474,955.
The Median Rent in Cottage Grove is $1,531.
The Median Income in Cottage Grove is $139,313.
The Home Value To Income in Cottage Grove is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cottage Grove is 0.13x.
| Statistic | Cottage Grove | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $474,955 | $330,171 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,531 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $139,313 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 4.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.13x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Cottage Grove, WI Costs By Category
Detailed Cottage Grove Services costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Cottage Grove | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.22 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.47 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.76 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.26 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $66.46 | $45.56 |
Detailed Cottage Grove Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Cottage Grove | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.79 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.2 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $8.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Cottage Grove Health costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Cottage Grove | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $70.37 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $222.85 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $122.45 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cottage Grove Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Cottage Grove | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.39 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.66 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cottage Grove Utilities costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Cottage Grove | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $226.9 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.25 | $192.25 |
Cottage Grove SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cottage Grove
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cottage Grove. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Madison, WI has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x Cottage Grove.
Sun Prairie, WI has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Cottage Grove.
Middleton, WI has a cost of living index of 120, 1.1x Cottage Grove.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cottage Grove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 278,001 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Sun Prairie, WI | 37,570 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Middleton, WI | 22,301 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Waunakee, WI | 15,687 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Verona, WI | 15,232 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Stoughton, WI | 13,033 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Oregon, WI | 11,547 | 111 | 1.0x |
| DeForest, WI | 11,501 | 107 | 0.9x |
| McFarland, WI | 9,160 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Monona, WI | 8,527 | 112 | 1.0x |
