A+
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
17%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; 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 living9696100
Goods & Services9997100
Groceries10399100
Health care111112100
Housing8388100
Transportation9998100
Utilities105102100

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 96, making it 4% 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 West Allis aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. West Allis residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

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

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 7 locals to get their views on the cost of living in West Allis. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 43% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 57% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

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 19.7% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 10.3% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with West Allis flaunting a median household income of $53,634, 3.1% lower than the national norm.

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

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In West Allis, the transportation index is 1.1% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In West Allis, the groceries index registers 2.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in West Allis, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in West Allis is equal to the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in West Allis is 4% lower than the national average
  • West Allis housing is 17% 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$69,031$5,753$1,611$2,071
      Renters$37,504$3,125$875$1,125
      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 $69,031. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,611 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $37,504. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $875 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 $20.21$24.2616.7%
      Beauty Salon $33.25$45.5627.0%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.07$1.2816.6%
      Movie $10.26$12.1315.5%
      Bowling $10.03$18.0044.3%

      Groceries

      Item West Allis National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.05$5.843.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.577.3%
      Milk $4.55$4.672.7%
      Potatoes $4.10$4.9317.0%
      Pizza $11.33$12.096.3%
      Beer $8.52$10.4118.2%

      Health Care

      Item West Allis National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $278.65$125.68121.7%
      Doctor $223.73$135.7864.8%
      Dentist $106.79$113.295.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.29$10.653.4%
      Lipitor $469.65$468.600.2%

      Housing

      Item West Allis National avg. Difference
      Home Price $148,400.00$184,700.0019.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,879.64$2,346.6919.9%
      Apartment Rent $851.00$949.0010.3%

      Transportation

      Item West Allis National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.30$3.464.5%
      Tire Balancing $44.14$59.9226.3%

      Utilities

      Item West Allis National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $182.69$193.995.8%
      Phone $185.79$192.253.4%
      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, WI592,649936.5%
      West Milwaukee, WI4,128945.7%
      Lannon, WI1,184964.2%
      St. Francis, WI9,600964.1%
      Cudahy, WI18,211973.4%
      West Allis, WI59,861964.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Cupertino, CA59,799325225.2%
      Owensboro, KY59,796927.9%
      Taylorsville, UT59,92611312.8%
      Woodland, CA59,75913332.9%
      Utica, NY59,984954.6%
      West Allis, WI59,861964.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.