| Index | Sun Prairie | Wisconsin | National |
| Cost of living | 110 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 135 | 89 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 94 | 98 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Sun Prairie 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 Sun Prairie is 110, which is 10% higher 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.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Sun Prairie are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Sun Prairie can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Housing costs significantly influence the Sun Prairie cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 35%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Is Sun Prairie 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 Sun Prairie, for instance, where the median home price falls 41.2% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 20.5% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Sun Prairie flaunting a median household income of $116,567, 43.3% higher than the national norm.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Sun Prairie, the transportation index is 3.5% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Sun Prairie, the groceries index is 1.3% lower than the national average.
The Sun Prairie cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Groceries index | |
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $148,217 | $12,351 | $3,458 | $4,447 |
| Renters | $75,595 | $6,300 | $1,764 | $2,268 |
| 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. |
| Waterloo, WI | 3,450 | 95 | 4.5% |
| Columbus, WI | 5,266 | 97 | 3.4% |
| Rockdale, WI | 216 | 98 | 1.9% |
| Marshall, WI | 4,124 | 100 | 0.1% |
| Poynette, WI | 2,559 | 100 | 0.2% |
| Sun Prairie, WI | 35,107 | 110 | 9.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Newark, DE | 35,117 | 115 | 14.5% |
| Chester, PA | 35,117 | 86 | 13.9% |
| Wenatchee, WA | 35,091 | 117 | 16.5% |
| Adelanto, CA | 35,081 | 116 | 15.8% |
| Montgomery Village, MD | 35,133 | 127 | 26.7% |
| Sun Prairie, WI | 35,107 | 110 | 9.5% |
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