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 91, 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 98.
The standard of living in Wausau ranks as #21 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Wausau ranks as the #125 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in Wausau, check out:
Wausau Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wausau. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wausau is 97.
The Groceries index in Wausau is 101.
The Health index in Wausau is 73.
The Housing index in Wausau is 102.
The Transportation index in Wausau is 97.
The Utilities index in Wausau is 99.
| Living Expense | Wausau | Wisconsin | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 91 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 100 | 100 |
Wausau 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 Wausau Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Wausau is $240,743.
The Median Rent in Wausau is $1,010.
The Median Income in Wausau is $64,389.
The Home Value To Income in Wausau is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wausau is 0.19x.
Wausau, WI Costs By Category
Detailed Wausau Services costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Wausau Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Wausau Health costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Wausau Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
Wausau SnackAbility
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 97, 1.1x Wausau.
Merrill, WI has a cost of living index of 86, 0.9x Wausau.
Kronenwetter, WI has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Wausau.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wausau |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weston, WI | 15,749 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Merrill, WI | 9,356 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Kronenwetter, WI | 8,395 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Rothschild, WI | 5,600 | 94 | 1.0x |
