D+
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
67%
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 Shorewood Wisconsin National
Cost of living11895100
Goods & Services9799100
Groceries101100100
Health care101100100
Housing16789100
Transportation10199100
Utilities9391100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Shorewood, WI

The cost of living in Shorewood affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Shorewood is 118, which is 18% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Shorewood cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 66.5% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Shorewood Affordable?

Is Shorewood affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Shorewood, the median home price is 93.5% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 3.7% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Shorewood boasting a median household income of $113,689, 39.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Shorewood?

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Shorewood, the groceries index is 0.5% higher than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Shorewood, the utilities index registers 7.2% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Shorewood, the transportation index is 0.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Shorewood cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Shorewood is 24% higher than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Shorewood is 18% higher than the national average
  • Shorewood housing is 67% higher 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 Shorewood

See all the best places to live around Shorewood

Compare Shorewood, 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$200,038$16,670$4,667$6,002
      Renters$67,852$5,654$1,583$2,036
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Shorewood, WI, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Shorewood homeowners, is $200,038. This would allow for a maximum of $4,667 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $67,852 which would result in a maximum of $1,583 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 Shorewood National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.76$27.627.8%
      Beauty Salon $44.52$51.1112.9%
      Toothpaste $4.15$4.091.4%
      Shampoo $1.37$1.5411.2%
      Movie $14.28$12.8810.9%
      Yoga $19.35$19.661.6%

      Groceries

      Item Shorewood National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.87$7.702.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.54$1.667.4%
      Milk $4.70$4.730.7%
      Potatoes $5.10$5.263.0%
      Pizza $14.03$12.769.9%
      Beer $9.38$10.5511.1%

      Health Care

      Item Shorewood National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $80.23$140.0642.7%
      Doctor $188.84$153.8222.8%
      Dentist $118.87$123.153.5%
      Ibuprofen $12.06$11.732.8%
      Lipitor $20.95$23.6111.3%

      Housing

      Item Shorewood National avg. Difference
      Home Price $631,961.00$326,622.0093.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,747.52$2,480.2510.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,497.00$1,444.003.7%

      Transportation

      Item Shorewood National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.90$3.065.0%
      Tire Balancing $74.93$65.2114.9%

      Utilities

      Item Shorewood National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $199.66$220.129.3%
      Phone $189.13$195.713.4%
      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.
      Milwaukee, WI605,531918.7%
      West Milwaukee, WI4,258927.9%
      Lannon, WI1,221946.4%
      St. Francis, WI9,923946.4%
      West Allis, WI61,432946.4%
      Shorewood, WI13,56111818.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Channahon, IL13,5611099.0%
      Mountain Park, GA13,5641098.9%
      Bedford, IN13,5578911.1%
      Firestone, CO13,56913332.5%
      Verona, WI13,55212019.7%
      Shorewood, WI13,56111818.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.