Waukesha, WI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Waukesha, WI Summary

Cost of living in Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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:

  • The cost of living index in Waukesha is 107, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Waukesha is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Waukesha ranks as the #104 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 146.

  • Waukesha ranks as the #3,374 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Waukesha is $401,827.

  • The median income in Waukesha is $81,651.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
107
Waukesha's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Waukesha, WI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waukesha has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Wisconsin, Waukesha has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Wisconsin's index of 95.

The standard of living in Waukesha ranks as #104 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Waukesha ranks as the #42 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in Waukesha, check out:

104 out of 146
In Wisconsin
3,374 out of 6,489
In America

Waukesha Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

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

  • The Services index in Waukesha is 100.

  • The Groceries index in Waukesha is 104.

  • The Health index in Waukesha is 113.

  • The Housing index in Waukesha is 116.

  • The Transportation index in Waukesha is 97.

  • The Utilities index in Waukesha is 103.

Living Expense Waukesha Wisconsin National Average
Overall 107 95 100
Services 100 98 100
Groceries 104 100 100
Health 113 111 100
Housing 116 88 100
Transportation 97 100 100
Utilities 103 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
Waukesha Cost of Living Vs. WI

Waukesha, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Waukesha is $401,827.

  • The Median Rent in Waukesha is $1,183.

  • The Median Income in Waukesha is $81,651.

  • The Home Value To Income in Waukesha is 4.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Waukesha is 0.17x.

Statistic Waukesha Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $401,827 $328,216 $303,400
Median Rent $1,183 $1,045 $1,348
Median Income $81,651 $75,670 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.9x 4.3x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.17x 0.21x
$401,827
Median Home Value
$1,183
Median Rent
$81,651
Median Income

Waukesha, WI Costs By Category

Detailed Waukesha Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
Shampoo $1.07 $1.28
Movie $10.26 $12.13
Bowling $10.03 $18
Haircut $20.21 $24.26
Beauty Salon $33.25 $45.56

Detailed Waukesha Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
Ground Beef $6.05 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.46 $1.57
Milk $4.55 $4.67
Potatoes $4.1 $4.93
Pizza $11.33 $12.09
Beer $8.52 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.66 $3.7

Detailed Waukesha Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
Optometrist $278.65 $125.68
Doctor $223.73 $135.78
Dentist $106.79 $113.29

Detailed Waukesha Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
Gasoline $3.3 $3.46
Tire Balancing $44.14 $59.92

Detailed Waukesha Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
All Electricity $182.69 $193.99
Phone $185.79 $192.25

Waukesha SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
8
Affordability
7
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waukesha

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

  • Wauwatosa, WI has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Waukesha.

  • Brookfield, WI has a cost of living index of 121, 1.1x Waukesha.

  • New Berlin, WI has a cost of living index of 114, 1.1x Waukesha.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Waukesha
Wauwatosa, WI 47,718 111 1.0x
Brookfield, WI 41,592 121 1.1x
New Berlin, WI 40,384 114 1.1x
Menomonee Falls, WI 38,963 114 1.1x
Mequon, WI 25,259 133 1.2x
Oconomowoc, WI 18,385 110 1.0x
Whitefish Bay, WI 14,750 126 1.2x
Richfield, WI 11,806 122 1.1x
Sussex, WI 11,795 113 1.1x
Hartland, WI 9,716 112 1.0x

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