B-
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
25%
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 Oak Creek Wisconsin National
Cost of living10896100
Goods & Services9997100
Groceries10399100
Health care111112100
Housing12588100
Transportation9998100
Utilities105102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Oak Creek, WI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Oak Creek? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Oak Creek stands at 108, making it 8% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in Oak Creek 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 Oak Creek can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

When it comes to the cost of living in Oak Creek, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 25.5% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Oak Creek Affordable?

Is Oak Creek 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 Oak Creek is 28.9% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 17.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Oak Creek has a median household income of $75,657, which is 36.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Oak Creek?

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Oak Creek, the housing index stands at 25.5% higher than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Oak Creek, the transportation index is 1.1% lower than the national average.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Oak Creek, the groceries index is 2.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Oak Creek 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Oak Creek is 13% higher than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Oak Creek is 8% higher than the national average
  • Oak Creek housing is 25% higher 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 Oak Creek

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Compare Oak Creek, 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$94,054$7,838$2,194$2,822
      Renters$57,686$4,807$1,346$1,731
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Oak Creek, WI, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Oak Creek, homeowners have a median income of $94,054. Using that number, a maximum of $2,194 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $57,686, which means there is a maximum of $1,346 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Oak Creek 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 Oak Creek 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 Oak Creek 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 Oak Creek National avg. Difference
      Home Price $238,100.00$184,700.0028.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,879.64$2,346.6919.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,115.00$949.0017.5%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Oak Creek 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%
      Milwaukee, WI592,649936.5%
      West Milwaukee, WI4,128945.7%
      West Allis, WI59,861964.4%
      St. Francis, WI9,600964.1%
      Oak Creek, WI36,3211088.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Winchester, NV36,302955.1%
      Benton, AR36,360955.3%
      Richfield, MN36,2531065.6%
      Owasso, OK36,395964.1%
      Elmont, NY36,24514848.5%
      Oak Creek, WI36,3211088.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.