Cost of living index

Wausau, WI

92.7 / 100

Living in Wausau, WI is 7.3% cheaper than the US average — the #224 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $950/mo

Median home value: $205,500

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Wausau, WI metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
26° / 10°F
(-3° / -12°C)
3.8 in precip
Spring
53° / 32°F
(12° / 0°C)
8.7 in precip
Summer
78° / 57°F
(26° / 14°C)
12.6 in precip
Fall
55° / 37°F
(13° / 3°C)
8.8 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from WAUSAU DWTN AP, via NOAA.

The Wausau, WI metro area has an overall price level of 92.7 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 7.3% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 71.5 it is 28.5% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#224 of 387
92.7
Goods#332 of 387
93.8
Housing rents#256 of 387
71.5
Utilities#161 of 387
90.0
Other services#135 of 387
99.4

Wausau, WI is moved down the most by housing rents, at 71.5 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

See all 13 metros in Wisconsin →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Wausau, WI an expensive place to live?

Wausau, WI has an overall cost-of-living index of 92.7, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 7.3% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Wausau, WI?

Housing rents in Wausau, WI score 71.5 against a US average of 100 — roughly 28.5% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Wausau, WI compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Wausau, WI sit at 92.7 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 71.5. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.