What is the cost of living in Lake Mills, WI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake Mills has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Wisconsin, Lake Mills has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Wisconsin's index of 98.
The standard of living in Lake Mills ranks as #92 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Lake Mills ranks as the #54 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in Lake Mills, check out:
Lake Mills Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake Mills. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lake Mills is 101.
The Groceries index in Lake Mills is 98.
The Health index in Lake Mills is 105.
The Housing index in Lake Mills is 97.
The Transportation index in Lake Mills is 99.
The Utilities index in Lake Mills is 99.
| Living Expense | Lake Mills | Wisconsin | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 105 | 91 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 100 | 100 |
Lake Mills 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 Lake Mills Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lake Mills, 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 Lake Mills is $420,977.
The Median Rent in Lake Mills is $1,209.
The Median Income in Lake Mills is $91,027.
The Home Value To Income in Lake Mills is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake Mills is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Lake Mills | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $420,977 | $330,171 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,209 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,027 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 4.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Lake Mills, WI Costs By Category
Detailed Lake Mills Services costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Lake Mills | 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 Lake Mills Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Lake Mills | 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 Lake Mills Health costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Lake Mills | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $70.37 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $222.85 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $122.45 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lake Mills Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Lake Mills | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.39 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.66 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lake Mills Utilities costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | Lake Mills | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $226.9 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.25 | $192.25 |
Lake Mills SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lake Mills
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lake Mills. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sun Prairie, WI has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x Lake Mills.
Watertown, WI has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Lake Mills.
Whitewater, WI has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Lake Mills.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lake Mills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Prairie, WI | 37,570 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Watertown, WI | 22,774 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Whitewater, WI | 15,807 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Stoughton, WI | 13,033 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Fort Atkinson, WI | 12,463 | 97 | 1.0x |
| McFarland, WI | 9,160 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Cottage Grove, WI | 8,513 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Jefferson, WI | 7,732 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Edgerton, WI | 6,014 | 97 | 1.0x |
