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Cost question

Is Wisconsin expensive to live in?

A direct, data-backed answer using cost-of-living exposure, housing cost signals, rent pressure, and income context.

34

/ 100

Cost-of-living risk

Short answer

It appears less expensive than many states.

Wisconsin (WI) has a score of 34, compared against other states. The score reflects rent, housing-cost, home-value, rent-to-income, and rent-growth signals where available. Coverage: State-backed. This answer uses state-level cost data for Wisconsin; city pages may use city, county, metro, or state-backed data depending on source coverage.

Source and freshness

Score versionV3
CoverageState-backed
Latest year2024

ACS 2023-2024 5-year

View data freshness →

Top drivers in this score

  • Rent growth (YoY)

    +4.0%

    Risk pressure percentile: 46

  • Median monthly housing costs

    $1,164

    Risk pressure percentile: 42

  • Median home value

    $266,500

    Risk pressure percentile: 40

How this compares

Relative risk score34.4
Median (states)52.0
Delta vs median-17.6

Approximate percentile: 34 of 100

Coverage and confidence

Scope usedState-backed
Metric coverage5/5
ConfidenceHigh confidence

Most core metrics are available at state level.

Metrics used

Median gross rent$1,087
Median home value$266,500
Median monthly housing costs$1,164
Rent as % of household income27.2%
Rent growth (YoY)+4.0%

Why it matters

Cost of living affects financial risk because fixed costs can absorb income before households address debt, savings, transportation, healthcare, or emergency expenses.

View full cost risk detail →

Common follow-ups

Is Wisconsin expensive to live in?

Wisconsin (WI) has a score of 34, compared against other states. The score reflects rent, housing-cost, home-value, rent-to-income, and rent-growth signals where available. Coverage: State-backed. This answer uses state-level cost data for Wisconsin; city pages may use city, county, metro, or state-backed data depending on source coverage.

What cost data is used for Wisconsin?

FinancialRiskIQ uses public indicators such as median gross rent, monthly housing costs, home value, rent-to-income ratio, and rent growth. This state answer uses ACS 2023-2024 5-year (2024).

Does this describe every household in the state?

No. The answer describes state-level conditions using aggregated public data, not individual household budgets.