A+
6%
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 West Allis Wisconsin National
Cost of living9495100
Goods & Services9799100
Groceries101100100
Health care101100100
Housing8489100
Transportation10199100
Utilities9391100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in West Allis, WI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in West Allis? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in West Allis stands at 94, making it 6% 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.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in West Allis are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of West Allis can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in West Allis?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 7 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in West Allis. The results indicated that 43% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 57% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is West Allis Affordable?

Is West Allis 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 West Allis, for instance, where the median home price falls 17.8% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 10.4% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with West Allis flaunting a median household income of $79,884, 1.8% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in West Allis?

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In West Allis, the housing index is 15.6% lower than the national average.

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 West Allis, the healthcare costs are 0.6% higher 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 West Allis, the groceries index is 0.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The West Allis 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 West Allis is 2% lower than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in West Allis is 6% lower than the national average
  • West Allis 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 West Allis

See all the best places to live around West Allis

Compare West Allis, 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$103,649$8,637$2,418$3,110
      Renters$56,992$4,749$1,330$1,710
      The affordability of the housing market in West Allis, WI as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among West Allis homeowners, the median income is $103,649. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,418 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $56,992. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,330 for their rent related monthly 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 West Allis 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 West Allis 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 West Allis 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 West Allis National avg. Difference
      Home Price $268,486.00$326,622.0017.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,747.52$2,480.2510.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,294.00$1,444.0010.4%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item West Allis 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%
      Cudahy, WI18,834945.6%
      West Allis, WI61,432946.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Bartlett, TN61,3911000.2%
      San Rafael, CA61,485221120.9%
      Royal Oak, MI61,4851088.0%
      Taylorsville, UT61,50311010.1%
      Ocala, FL61,352936.9%
      West Allis, WI61,432946.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.