A+
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
16%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Platteville Wisconsin National
Cost of living9695100
Goods & Services10499100
Groceries100100100
Health care107100100
Housing8489100
Transportation9999100
Utilities9691100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Platteville, WI

Knowing the cost of living in Platteville 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 Platteville stands at 96, marking it 4% lower than the national average.

The cost of living in Platteville 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 Platteville 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 Platteville Affordable?

Is Platteville affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Platteville, for instance, where the median home price falls 13.3% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 21.3% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Platteville flaunting a median household income of $62,775, 22.8% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Platteville?

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 Platteville, healthcare costs are 7.2% higher than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Platteville, the housing index comes in at 15.7% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Platteville displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Platteville is 1% higher than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Platteville is 4% lower than the national average
  • Platteville housing is 16% lower than the national average
  • Wisconsin general sales tax is 2% lower than the national average
  • Wisconsin state income tax is 36% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Platteville

See all the best places to live around Platteville

Compare Platteville, 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$109,083$9,090$2,545$3,273
      Renters$41,168$3,431$961$1,235
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Platteville, 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 Platteville, homeowners have a median income of $109,083. Using that number, a maximum of $2,545 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $41,168, which means there is a maximum of $961 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 Platteville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.18$27.6212.9%
      Beauty Salon $78.08$51.1152.8%
      Toothpaste $4.04$4.091.3%
      Shampoo $1.32$1.5414.4%
      Movie $14.71$12.8814.2%
      Yoga $29.08$19.6647.9%

      Groceries

      Item Platteville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.57$7.701.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.53$1.668.0%
      Milk $4.71$4.730.5%
      Potatoes $4.82$5.268.3%
      Pizza $10.93$12.7614.4%
      Beer $9.29$10.5511.9%

      Health Care

      Item Platteville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $106.67$140.0623.8%
      Doctor $241.69$153.8257.1%
      Dentist $131.38$123.156.7%
      Ibuprofen $11.95$11.731.9%
      Lipitor $13.79$23.6141.6%

      Housing

      Item Platteville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $283,326.00$326,622.0013.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,017.13$2,480.2521.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,136.00$1,444.0021.3%

      Transportation

      Item Platteville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.89$3.065.6%
      Tire Balancing $70.66$65.218.4%

      Utilities

      Item Platteville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $210.29$220.124.5%
      Phone $189.88$195.713.0%
      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.
      Rewey, WI2858514.6%
      Shullsburg, WI1,2958911.3%
      Linden, WI6408911.0%
      Benton, WI886918.6%
      Livingston, WI545918.5%
      Platteville, WI12,471963.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Cloquet, MN12,471963.5%
      Amherst, OH12,470964.3%
      Lewisburg, TN12,4758910.9%
      Durham, NH12,46413029.6%
      North Merrick, NY12,46416665.6%
      Platteville, WI12,471963.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.