Wausau, WI Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Wausau, WI Summary

Cost of living in Wausau 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 Wausau 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 Wausau is 86, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Wausau ranks as the #9 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 146.

  • Wausau ranks as the #639 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Wausau is $236,110.

  • The median income in Wausau is $61,877.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
86
Wausau's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Wausau, WI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wausau has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

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

The standard of living in Wausau ranks as #9 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Wausau ranks as the #137 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in Wausau, check out:

9 out of 146
In Wisconsin
639 out of 6,489
In America

Wausau Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

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

  • The Services index in Wausau is 84.

  • The Groceries index in Wausau is 98.

  • The Health index in Wausau is 124.

  • The Housing index in Wausau is 69.

  • The Transportation index in Wausau is 90.

  • The Utilities index in Wausau is 96.

Living Expense Wausau Wisconsin National Average
Overall 86 95 100
Services 84 98 100
Groceries 98 100 100
Health 124 111 100
Housing 69 88 100
Transportation 90 100 100
Utilities 96 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
Wausau Cost of Living Vs. WI

Wausau, 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 Wausau is $236,110.

  • The Median Rent in Wausau is $950.

  • The Median Income in Wausau is $61,877.

  • The Home Value To Income in Wausau is 3.8x.

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

Statistic Wausau Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $236,110 $328,216 $303,400
Median Rent $950 $1,045 $1,348
Median Income $61,877 $75,670 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.8x 4.3x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.17x 0.21x
$236,110
Median Home Value
$950
Median Rent
$61,877
Median Income

Wausau, WI Costs By Category

Detailed Wausau Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau 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 Wausau Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau 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 Wausau Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau Wisconsin
Optometrist $89.62 $125.68
Doctor $202.67 $135.78
Dentist $110.3 $113.29

Detailed Wausau Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau Wisconsin
Gasoline $3.25 $3.46
Tire Balancing $66.53 $59.92

Detailed Wausau Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau Wisconsin
All Electricity $214.46 $193.99
Phone $184.65 $192.25

Wausau SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
6
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
9.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wausau

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

  • Weston, WI has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Wausau.

  • Merrill, WI has a cost of living index of 80, 0.9x Wausau.

  • Kronenwetter, WI has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Wausau.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Wausau
Weston, WI 15,784 88 1.0x
Merrill, WI 9,224 80 0.9x
Kronenwetter, WI 8,420 94 1.1x
Rib Mountain, WI 6,134 95 1.1x
Rothschild, WI 5,532 87 1.0x

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