Waupaca, WI Cost Of Living

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

Cost of living in Waupaca, Wisconsin

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:

89 Cost of living index 0.9x lower vs US
#13 Cheapest in Wisconsin (of 146)
#897 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$319,369 Median home value
$783 Median rent
$52,727 Median income
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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 98.

The standard of living in Waupaca ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Waupaca ranks as the #133 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in Waupaca, check out:

Waupaca Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

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

  • The Services index in Waupaca is 100.

  • The Groceries index in Waupaca is 94.

  • The Health index in Waupaca is 65.

  • The Housing index in Waupaca is 97.

  • The Transportation index in Waupaca is 104.

  • The Utilities index in Waupaca is 93.

Living Expense Waupaca Wisconsin National Average
Overall 89 98 100
Services 100 98 100
Groceries 94 100 100
Health 65 91 100
Housing 97 99 100
Transportation 104 102 100
Utilities 93 100 100

Waupaca Cost Of Living Compared To Wisconsin Averages

Services
Waupaca 100
Wisconsin avg 98
Groceries
Waupaca 94
Wisconsin avg 100
Health
Waupaca 65
Wisconsin avg 91
Housing
Waupaca 97
Wisconsin avg 99
Transportation
Waupaca 104
Wisconsin avg 102
Utilities
Waupaca 93
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

Waupaca, WI Housing Cost Breakdown

$319,369Median Home Value
$783Median Rent
$52,727Median 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 Waupaca is $319,369.

  • The Median Rent in Waupaca is $783.

  • The Median Income in Waupaca is $52,727.

  • The Home Value To Income in Waupaca is 6.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Waupaca is 0.18x.

Statistic Waupaca Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $319,369 $330,171 $332,700
Median Rent $783 $1,087 $1,413
Median Income $52,727 $77,485 $80,734
Home Value To Income 6.1x 4.3x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.17x 0.21x

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

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

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 89, 1.0x Waupaca.

  • Kaukauna, WI has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Waupaca.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Waupaca
De Pere, WI 25,301 98 1.1x
Menasha, WI 18,273 89 1.0x
Kaukauna, WI 17,706 95 1.1x
Plover, WI 13,884 97 1.1x
Little Chute, WI 11,754 96 1.1x
Hobart, WI 10,610 109 1.2x
Kronenwetter, WI 8,395 99 1.1x