| Index | Wausau | Wisconsin | National |
| Cost of living | 90 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 72 | 89 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 98 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Wausau? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Wausau stands at 90, making it 10% lower 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 Wausau is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, household expenses and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 6 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Wausau. The results indicated that 50% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 50% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Wausau an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Wausau, the median home price is 31.8% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 20.6% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Wausau come in at $71,432, which is 12.2% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including 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 farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Wausau, the healthcare costs are 0.8% lower than the national average.
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 Wausau, the groceries index is 3.3% lower than the national average.
The Wausau cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $99,902 | $8,325 | $2,331 | $2,997 |
| Renters | $47,612 | $3,968 | $1,111 | $1,429 |
| 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. |
| Schofield, WI | 2,344 | 90 | 9.6% |
| Mosinee, WI | 4,166 | 91 | 9.2% |
| Marathon City, WI | 1,360 | 92 | 7.8% |
| Rothschild, WI | 5,463 | 93 | 6.8% |
| Brokaw, WI | 242 | 95 | 4.7% |
| Wausau, WI | 39,898 | 90 | 9.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Issaquah, WA | 39,876 | 172 | 72.4% |
| Sun City, AZ | 39,873 | 102 | 1.9% |
| Evans, GA | 39,854 | 114 | 14.3% |
| Wheeling, IL | 39,851 | 104 | 4.0% |
| Martinez, CA | 39,841 | 171 | 71.4% |
| Wausau, WI | 39,898 | 90 | 9.7% |
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