Waukesha, WI Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Waukesha, WI Summary

Cost of living in Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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 Waukesha is 95, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Waukesha ranks as the #69 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 143.

  • Waukesha ranks as the #2,449 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Waukesha is $232,700.

  • The median income in Waukesha is $71,733.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
95
Waukesha's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Waukesha, WI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waukesha has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Wisconsin, Waukesha has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Wisconsin's index of 95.

The standard of living in Waukesha ranks as #69 most affordable out of the 143 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Waukesha ranks as the #74 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in Waukesha, check out:

69 out of 143
In Wisconsin
2,449 out of 6,412
In America

Waukesha Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

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

  • The Services index in Waukesha is 95.

  • The Groceries index in Waukesha is 96.

  • The Health index in Waukesha is 110.

  • The Housing index in Waukesha is 99.

  • The Transportation index in Waukesha is 90.

  • The Utilities index in Waukesha is 94.

Living Expense Waukesha Wisconsin National Average
Overall 95 95 100
Services 95 97 100
Groceries 96 98 100
Health 110 114 100
Housing 99 84 100
Transportation 90 96 100
Utilities 94 103 100
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
Waukesha Cost of Living Vs. WI

Waukesha, 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 Waukesha is $232,700.

  • The Median Rent in Waukesha is $1,032.

  • The Median Income in Waukesha is $71,733.

  • The Home Value To Income in Waukesha is 3.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Waukesha is 0.17x.

Statistic Waukesha Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $232,700 $200,400 $244,900
Median Rent $1,032 $916 $1,163
Median Income $71,733 $67,080 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.2x 3.0x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.16x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Waukesha, WI
$232,700
Median Home Value
$1,032
Median Rent
$71,733
Median Income

Waukesha, WI Costs By Category

Detailed Waukesha Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
Shampoo $1.09 $1.06
Movie $11.14 $10.68
Bowling $16.27 $14.67
Haircut $22.22 $18.62
Beauty Salon $41.93 $39.05

Detailed Waukesha Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
Ground Beef $4.05 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.22 $1.39
Milk $1.98 $2.05
Potatoes $2.49 $3.29
Pizza $10.35 $10.62
Beer $7.84 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.24 $2.34

Detailed Waukesha Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
Optometrist $60.0 $108.57
Doctor $175.4 $116.17
Dentist $101.1 $99.13

Detailed Waukesha Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
Gasoline $2.01 $2.22
Tire Balancing $47.04 $50.07

Detailed Waukesha Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Waukesha Wisconsin
All Electricity $159.26 $167.67
Phone $178.69 $175.64

Waukesha SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
8
Affordability
7
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waukesha

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

  • Wauwatosa, WI has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Waukesha.

  • Brookfield, WI has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Waukesha.

  • New Berlin, WI has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Waukesha.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Waukesha
Wauwatosa, WI 48,072 102 1.1x
Brookfield, WI 41,020 112 1.2x
New Berlin, WI 40,289 103 1.1x
Menomonee Falls, WI 38,219 103 1.1x
Mequon, WI 24,814 119 1.3x
Oconomowoc, WI 17,969 103 1.1x
Whitefish Bay, WI 14,818 120 1.3x
Richfield, WI 11,704 111 1.2x
Sussex, WI 11,398 106 1.1x
Hartland, WI 9,457 106 1.1x

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