Rhinelander, WI Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Rhinelander. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Rhinelander compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Cost of living in Rhinelander research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Rhinelander is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Wisconsin, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

88 Cost of living index 0.9x lower vs US
#10 Cheapest in Wisconsin (of 146)
#742 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$254,837 Median home value
$804 Median rent
$51,421 Median income
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What is the cost of living in Rhinelander, WI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rhinelander has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Wisconsin, Rhinelander has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Wisconsin's index of 98.

The standard of living in Rhinelander ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Rhinelander ranks as the #136 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in Rhinelander, check out:

Rhinelander Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rhinelander. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Rhinelander is 98.

  • The Groceries index in Rhinelander is 97.

  • The Health index in Rhinelander is 59.

  • The Housing index in Rhinelander is 100.

  • The Transportation index in Rhinelander is 100.

  • The Utilities index in Rhinelander is 98.

Living Expense Rhinelander Wisconsin National Average
Overall 88 98 100
Services 98 98 100
Groceries 97 100 100
Health 59 91 100
Housing 100 99 100
Transportation 100 102 100
Utilities 98 100 100

Rhinelander Cost Of Living Compared To Wisconsin Averages

Services
Rhinelander 98
Wisconsin avg 98
Groceries
Rhinelander 97
Wisconsin avg 100
Health
Rhinelander 59
Wisconsin avg 91
Housing
Rhinelander 100
Wisconsin avg 99
Transportation
Rhinelander 100
Wisconsin avg 102
Utilities
Rhinelander 98
Wisconsin avg 100

Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.

For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:

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Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Rhinelander, WI Housing Cost Breakdown

$254,837Median Home Value
$804Median Rent
$51,421Median Income

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 Rhinelander is $254,837.

  • The Median Rent in Rhinelander is $804.

  • The Median Income in Rhinelander is $51,421.

  • The Home Value To Income in Rhinelander is 5.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Rhinelander is 0.19x.

Statistic Rhinelander Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $254,837 $330,171 $332,700
Median Rent $804 $1,087 $1,413
Median Income $51,421 $77,485 $80,734
Home Value To Income 5.0x 4.3x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.17x 0.21x

Rhinelander, WI Costs By Category

Detailed Rhinelander Services costs vs. Wisconsin
Item Rhinelander Wisconsin
Shampoo $1.18 $1.28
Movie $14.28 $12.13
Bowling $16.88 $18
Haircut $28.71 $24.26
Beauty Salon $44.93 $45.56
Detailed Rhinelander Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
Item Rhinelander Wisconsin
Ground Beef $5.41 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.47 $1.57
Milk $4.78 $4.67
Potatoes $4.45 $4.93
Pizza $12.91 $12.09
Beer $8.7 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.62 $3.7
Detailed Rhinelander Health costs vs. Wisconsin
Item Rhinelander Wisconsin
Optometrist $89.62 $125.68
Doctor $202.67 $135.78
Dentist $110.3 $113.29
Detailed Rhinelander Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
Item Rhinelander Wisconsin
Gasoline $3.25 $3.46
Tire Balancing $66.53 $59.92
Detailed Rhinelander Utilities costs vs. Wisconsin
Item Rhinelander Wisconsin
All Electricity $214.46 $193.99
Phone $184.65 $192.25

Rhinelander SnackAbility

7Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 8/10
Housing 5/10
Affordability 8/10
Diversity 5/10
Safety 7/10
Amenities 8/10
Education 7/10
Commute 9.5/10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rhinelander

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rhinelander. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Wausau, WI has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Rhinelander.

  • Merrill, WI has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Rhinelander.

  • Antigo, WI has a cost of living index of 81, 0.9x Rhinelander.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Rhinelander
Wausau, WI 39,996 91 1.0x
Merrill, WI 9,356 86 1.0x
Antigo, WI 8,069 81 0.9x