What is the cost of living in Waunakee, WI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waunakee has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Wisconsin, Waunakee has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Wisconsin's index of 98.
The standard of living in Waunakee ranks as #139 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Waunakee ranks as the #7 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in Waunakee, check out:
Waunakee Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waunakee. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waunakee is 100.
The Groceries index in Waunakee is 99.
The Health index in Waunakee is 172.
The Housing index in Waunakee is 95.
The Transportation index in Waunakee is 104.
The Utilities index in Waunakee is 99.
| Living Expense | Waunakee | Wisconsin | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 172 | 91 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 100 | 100 |
Waunakee 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 Waunakee Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Waunakee, 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 Waunakee is $584,110.
The Median Rent in Waunakee is $1,324.
The Median Income in Waunakee is $125,220.
The Home Value To Income in Waunakee is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waunakee is 0.13x.
Waunakee, WI Costs By Category
Detailed Waunakee Services costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Waunakee Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Waunakee Health costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Waunakee Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
Waunakee SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waunakee
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waunakee. 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, 0.9x Waunakee.
Sun Prairie, WI has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Waunakee.
Middleton, WI has a cost of living index of 120, 1.0x Waunakee.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waunakee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 278,001 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Sun Prairie, WI | 37,570 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Middleton, WI | 22,301 | 120 | 1.0x |
| Verona, WI | 15,232 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Oregon, WI | 11,547 | 111 | 0.9x |
| DeForest, WI | 11,501 | 107 | 0.9x |
| McFarland, WI | 9,160 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Monona, WI | 8,527 | 112 | 0.9x |
| Cottage Grove, WI | 8,513 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Mount Horeb, WI | 7,736 | 108 | 0.9x |
