Waupaca, WI Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Waupaca, WI Summary

Cost of living in Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca is 89, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Waupaca is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Waupaca ranks as the #19 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 146.

  • Waupaca ranks as the #1,060 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Waupaca is $312,052.

  • The median income in Waupaca is $52,586.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
89
Waupaca's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Waupaca, WI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waupaca has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Wisconsin, Waupaca has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Wisconsin's index of 95.

The standard of living in Waupaca ranks as #19 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Waupaca ranks as the #127 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in Waupaca, check out:

19 out of 146
In Wisconsin
1,060 out of 6,489
In America

Waupaca Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

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

  • The Services index in Waupaca is 98.

  • The Groceries index in Waupaca is 99.

  • The Health index in Waupaca is 113.

  • The Housing index in Waupaca is 67.

  • The Transportation index in Waupaca is 102.

  • The Utilities index in Waupaca is 104.

Living Expense Waupaca Wisconsin National Average
Overall 89 95 100
Services 98 98 100
Groceries 99 100 100
Health 113 111 100
Housing 67 88 100
Transportation 102 100 100
Utilities 104 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
Waupaca Cost of Living Vs. WI

Waupaca, 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 Waupaca is $312,052.

  • The Median Rent in Waupaca is $748.

  • The Median Income in Waupaca is $52,586.

  • The Home Value To Income in Waupaca is 5.9x.

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

Statistic Waupaca Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $312,052 $328,216 $303,400
Median Rent $748 $1,045 $1,348
Median Income $52,586 $75,670 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.9x 4.3x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.17x 0.21x
$312,052
Median Home Value
$748
Median Rent
$52,586
Median Income

Waupaca, WI Costs By Category

Detailed Waupaca Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waupaca Wisconsin
Shampoo $1.2 $1.28
Movie $8.75 $12.13
Bowling $12.11 $18
Haircut $22.5 $24.26
Beauty Salon $28.5 $45.56

Detailed Waupaca Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waupaca Wisconsin
Ground Beef $5.64 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.43 $1.57
Milk $4.72 $4.67
Potatoes $4.45 $4.93
Pizza $10.22 $12.09
Beer $8.71 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.72 $3.7

Detailed Waupaca Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waupaca Wisconsin
Optometrist $121.64 $125.68
Doctor $216.44 $135.78
Dentist $102.1 $113.29

Detailed Waupaca Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waupaca Wisconsin
Gasoline $3.26 $3.46
Tire Balancing $69.15 $59.92

Detailed Waupaca Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waupaca Wisconsin
All Electricity $212.47 $193.99
Phone $185.94 $192.25

Waupaca SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
5
Affordability
8
Diversity
3
Safety
6
Amenities
7
Education
8
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waupaca

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

  • De Pere, WI has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Waupaca.

  • Menasha, WI has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Waupaca.

  • Kaukauna, WI has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Waupaca.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Waupaca
De Pere, WI 25,368 98 1.1x
Menasha, WI 18,130 92 1.0x
Kaukauna, WI 17,237 91 1.0x
Plover, WI 13,713 94 1.1x
Little Chute, WI 11,930 94 1.1x
Hobart, WI 10,418 107 1.2x
Kronenwetter, WI 8,420 94 1.1x
Rib Mountain, WI 6,134 95 1.1x

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