Wausau, WI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

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 87, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Wausau ranks as the #20 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 143.

  • Wausau ranks as the #1,101 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Wausau is $129,300.

  • The median income in Wausau is $53,800.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
87
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 87, 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 #20 most affordable out of the 143 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Wausau ranks as the #123 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in Wausau, check out:

20 out of 143
In Wisconsin
1,101 out of 6,412
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 93.

  • The Groceries index in Wausau is 98.

  • The Health index in Wausau is 120.

  • The Housing index in Wausau is 65.

  • The Transportation index in Wausau is 97.

  • The Utilities index in Wausau is 88.

Living Expense Wausau Wisconsin National Average
Overall 87 95 100
Services 93 97 100
Groceries 98 98 100
Health 120 114 100
Housing 65 84 100
Transportation 97 96 100
Utilities 88 103 100
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 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Wausau is $129,300.

  • The Median Rent in Wausau is $827.

  • The Median Income in Wausau is $53,800.

  • The Home Value To Income in Wausau is 2.4x.

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

Statistic Wausau Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $129,300 $200,400 $244,900
Median Rent $827 $916 $1,163
Median Income $53,800 $67,080 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.4x 3.0x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.16x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Wausau, WI
$129,300
Median Home Value
$827
Median Rent
$53,800
Median Income

Wausau, WI Costs By Category

Detailed Wausau Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau Wisconsin
Shampoo $0.94 $1.06
Movie $9.33 $10.68
Bowling $11.5 $14.67
Haircut $18.75 $18.62
Beauty Salon $30.83 $39.05

Detailed Wausau Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau Wisconsin
Ground Beef $4.4 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.65 $1.39
Milk $1.55 $2.05
Potatoes $2.45 $3.29
Pizza $10.57 $10.62
Beer $8.13 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.91 $2.34

Detailed Wausau Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau Wisconsin
Optometrist $139.0 $108.57
Doctor $194.57 $116.17
Dentist $95.94 $99.13

Detailed Wausau Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau Wisconsin
Gasoline $2.26 $2.22
Tire Balancing $43.73 $50.07

Detailed Wausau Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Wausau Wisconsin
All Electricity $132.18 $167.67
Phone $179.44 $175.64

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 91, 1.0x Wausau.

  • Merrill, WI has a cost of living index of 81, 0.9x Wausau.

  • Kronenwetter, WI has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Wausau.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Wausau
Weston, WI 15,609 91 1.0x
Merrill, WI 9,344 81 0.9x
Kronenwetter, WI 8,257 93 1.1x
Rib Mountain, WI 6,280 96 1.1x
Rothschild, WI 5,535 87 1.0x

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