What is the cost of living in West Salem, WI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Salem has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Wisconsin, West Salem has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Wisconsin's index of 98.
The standard of living in West Salem ranks as #83 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies West Salem ranks as the #63 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in West Salem, check out:
West Salem Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Salem. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Salem is 102.
The Groceries index in West Salem is 99.
The Health index in West Salem is 104.
The Housing index in West Salem is 96.
The Transportation index in West Salem is 103.
The Utilities index in West Salem is 102.
| Living Expense | West Salem | Wisconsin | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 104 | 91 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 100 | 100 |
West Salem 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 West Salem Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
West Salem, 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 West Salem is $370,539.
The Median Rent in West Salem is $1,283.
The Median Income in West Salem is $97,019.
The Home Value To Income in West Salem is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Salem is 0.16x.
| Statistic | West Salem | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $370,539 | $330,171 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,283 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $97,019 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 4.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
West Salem, WI Costs By Category
Detailed West Salem Services costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | West Salem | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.23 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $39.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed West Salem Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | West Salem | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.94 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.61 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.29 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $8.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed West Salem Health costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | West Salem | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $179.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $107.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Salem Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | West Salem | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.89 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Salem Utilities costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | West Salem | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $193.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $197.22 | $192.25 |
West Salem SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Salem
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Salem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
La Crosse, WI has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x West Salem.
Winona, MN has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x West Salem.
Onalaska, WI has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x West Salem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WI | 51,356 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Winona, MN | 26,009 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Onalaska, WI | 19,348 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Holmen, WI | 11,372 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Sparta, WI | 9,950 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Tomah, WI | 9,532 | 93 | 0.9x |
| La Crescent, MN | 5,251 | 98 | 1.0x |
