A+
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
10%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Kenosha Wisconsin National
Cost of living9896100
Goods & Services9997100
Groceries10399100
Health care111112100
Housing9088100
Transportation9998100
Utilities105102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Kenosha, WI

Knowing the cost of living in Kenosha allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Kenosha stands at 98, marking it 2% lower than the national average.

The cost of living in Kenosha closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Kenosha can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Kenosha Affordable?

Is Kenosha an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Kenosha is 12.9% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 2.7% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Kenosha has a median household income of $56,113, which is 1.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Kenosha?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Kenosha, healthcare costs are 10.5% higher than the national average.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Kenosha, is 9.8% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Kenosha cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Kenosha is 2% higher than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Kenosha is 2% lower than the national average
  • Kenosha housing is 10% lower than the national average
  • Wisconsin general sales tax is 2% lower than the national average
  • Wisconsin state income tax is 57% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Kenosha

See all the best places to live around Kenosha

Compare Kenosha, WI Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$74,322$6,194$1,734$2,230
      Renters$35,731$2,978$834$1,072
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Kenosha, WI, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Kenosha have a median income of $74,322. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,734 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $35,731, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $834.

      Wisconsin Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Wisconsin 5% 6.75%

      Wisconsin Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Wisconsin 3.54% 7.65%

      Goods & Services

      Item Kenosha National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.21$24.2616.7%
      Beauty Salon $33.25$45.5627.0%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.07$1.2816.6%
      Movie $10.26$12.1315.5%
      Bowling $10.03$18.0044.3%

      Groceries

      Item Kenosha National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.05$5.843.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.577.3%
      Milk $4.55$4.672.7%
      Potatoes $4.10$4.9317.0%
      Pizza $11.33$12.096.3%
      Beer $8.52$10.4118.2%

      Health Care

      Item Kenosha National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $278.65$125.68121.7%
      Doctor $223.73$135.7864.8%
      Dentist $106.79$113.295.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.29$10.653.4%
      Lipitor $469.65$468.600.2%

      Housing

      Item Kenosha National avg. Difference
      Home Price $160,900.00$184,700.0012.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,879.64$2,346.6919.9%
      Apartment Rent $923.00$949.002.7%

      Transportation

      Item Kenosha National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.30$3.464.5%
      Tire Balancing $44.14$59.9226.3%

      Utilities

      Item Kenosha National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $182.69$193.995.8%
      Phone $185.79$192.253.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Racine, WI76,893927.9%
      Waukegan, IL87,157982.1%
      Zion, IL23,677973.4%
      Sturtevant, WI6,606990.8%
      Round Lake Beach, IL27,3131021.6%
      Kenosha, WI99,767982.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Vacaville, CA99,95814645.8%
      Spokane Valley, WA99,2751088.3%
      Carmel, IN99,13012020.0%
      Roanoke, VA99,122927.9%
      Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC99,027n/a 
      Kenosha, WI99,767982.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.