| Index | Manitowoc | Wisconsin | National |
| Cost of living | 88 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 64 | 89 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 101 | 98 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Manitowoc is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Manitowoc is 88, which is 12% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 7 residents in Manitowoc to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 86% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 14% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Manitowoc 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 Manitowoc is 38.5% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 29.9% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Manitowoc has a median household income of $76,647, which is 5.8% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Manitowoc, the groceries index is 0.5% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Manitowoc starts at 5% and the income tax rates start at 3.54%.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
The Manitowoc cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $95,037 | $7,920 | $2,217 | $2,851 |
| Renters | $49,987 | $4,166 | $1,166 | $1,500 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Wisconsin | 5% | 6.75% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Wisconsin | 3.54% | 7.65% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Two Rivers, WI | 11,440 | 86 | 14.0% |
| Kellnersville, WI | 350 | 86 | 13.5% |
| Reedsville, WI | 1,132 | 87 | 13.0% |
| Valders, WI | 884 | 88 | 11.5% |
| Mishicot, WI | 1,485 | 89 | 10.9% |
| Manitowoc, WI | 33,568 | 88 | 12.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| South Riding, VA | 33,596 | 158 | 58.0% |
| Elk Grove Village, IL | 33,607 | 115 | 15.4% |
| East Lake, FL | 33,518 | 126 | 25.6% |
| Lawndale, CA | 33,508 | 158 | 57.9% |
| Massillon, OH | 33,654 | 87 | 13.5% |
| Manitowoc, WI | 33,568 | 88 | 12.1% |
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