People often overlook the cheapest places to live in Wisconsin, as they tend to focus on its cheese-loving residents or big cheese cities like Milwaukee.
However, the real deal lies within Wisconsin’s affordable yet excellent neighborhoods.
We used Saturday Night Science and Census data to determine the most affordable places to live in Wisconsin. We compared the cost of living, real estate prices, and incomes for all 141 cities in Wisconsin over 5,000 people.
The residents of these Badger State cities won’t have to reduce their grocery budget by hunting and ice fishing or earn extra cash by plowing snow.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Wisconsin
What’s the cheapest place to live in Wisconsin? According to the most recent data, the cheapest place in Wisconsin is Merrill.
So, if you care about home values, cost of living, and gold star quality of life, look at the list below to see where your Wisconsin dollar will let you live like a Milwaukee Buck on a dairy farmer’s salary.
Check out some more reading about Wisconsin and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Wisconsin For 2024
/10
Population: 9,266
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 79
Median Income: $48,378
Median Home Price: $180,411
Median Rent: $703
If you want to live in the cheapest place in America’s Dairyland, look no further than Merrill. Merrill is known as the “City of Parks, so you’ll never be left wondering how to entertain yourself free of charge. Merrill boasts the ninth cheapest homes in the state, and the absolute lowest you’ll see on this list, with a median price of $180,411. Even more important, though, is that Merrill’s median income is $48,378, meaning there’s nowhere in Wisconsin where you’ll spend less of your salary on your home.
Merrill is located in north-central Wisconsin.
More on Merrill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,783
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $51,186
Median Home Price: $187,866
Median Rent: $868
Wisconsin Rapids, located in Wood County in the center of Wisconsin, is the second lowest cost city in the state. The city has the 39th best home price to income in the Badger State.
The cost of living index at 80 is 14 points below the state average in Wisconsin Rapids. Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Zoo and Nepco Lake County Park offer something cheap to do with the family.
More on Wisconsin Rapids: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,212
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $54,848
Median Home Price: $203,619
Median Rent: $737
Located about 45 minutes northwest of Green Bay, Shawano ranks as the third most affordable city in Wisconsin. Shawano has the second cheapest homes on this list and the 19th cheapest homes in the state. Residents earn a median income of $54,848 and pay a median price of $203,619 for homes. On the other hand, Shawano is the least economical place to rent on this list, notwithstanding the fact that you can get an apartment for under $600/month here. Shawano is home to Twig’s Beverage, who make some of the finest craft soda in the Midwest.
More on Shawano: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,236
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $47,730
Median Home Price: $225,786
Median Rent: $867
Rhinelander, in northern Wisconsin west of Green Bay, has the 26th lowest home prices and a solid 122nd best home-price-to-income ratio. The city has the fourth lowest overall cost of living.
Rhinelander has cheap things to do, including Hodag Park and the Hodag Country Festival. It’s also right next to Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
More on Rhinelander: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
I’ve lived in Rhinelander all my life and loved every second of it. If you want to rank cities based on crime and unemployment then have it, but those aren’t the deciding factors for whether it’s a terrible place to live. If you don’t believe me, ask the journal sentinel what they think of Rhinelander: http:m.jsonline.comwisconsin-travel/268294472.htm-
/10
Population: 8,075
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $45,581
Median Home Price: $146,364
Median Rent: $722
Next on the list is another town northwest of Green Bay. Antigo, in Langlade County, ranks as the fifth cheapest city in Wisconsin. According to Zillow, the average home price is the lowest in the state at $146,364.
The Springbrook Trail and Antigo Lake Park are cheap things to do in town. And you save so much on housing that you’ll have more to spend for a long weekend in Minneapolis or Milwaukee.
More on Antigo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 39,906
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $59,259
Median Home Price: $203,400
Median Rent: $898
What do you say we take a stop in Wausau? Wausau is the sixth cheapest city in the Badger State. It’s easy to save money when home prices are $203,400 and the overall cost of living sits at 82, 12.8% lower than the Wisconsin average.
With 39,906 people, there’s more to do in Wausau. You can take in the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum or spend the afternoon at the Monk Botanical Gardens.
More on Wausau: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 34,500
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $60,040
Median Home Price: $199,459
Median Rent: $743
Manitowoc offers its residents an excellent quality of life with a low cost of living and a stable economy. The city’s income-to-rent ratio is also favorable. This combination makes it easier for residents to pay rent without sacrificing too much of their income. Manitowoc’s unemployment rate is only 2.8%, making it one of Wisconsin’s most stable places to find work.
Manitowoc’s median home value is $199,459, well below the national average. The median rent in Manitowoc is $743, and the overall cost of living is 16% lower than the national average, making it an affordable place to call home.
More on Manitowoc: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,065
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $54,969
Median Home Price: $166,215
Median Rent: $751
Marinette, located on the south bank of the Menominee River, is one of the most affordable places to live in Wisconsin. With a median home value of $166,215 and a median rent of $751, Marinette offers lower living costs than the national average.
Apart from being an affordable place to live, Marinette is also a great place to call home. With its beautiful location near Green Bay and Lake Michigan, residents can enjoy various outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. The city also has a rich history as a significant player in the lumbering industry during the late 19th century, as evidenced by its preserved park on Stephenson Island.
More on Marinette: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 36,642
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $57,168
Median Home Price: $165,823
Median Rent: $957
We’re going to south Wisconsin now to visit Beloit, the ninth cheapest place in the state. It’s 1.5 hours south of Milwaukee on the Illinois border.
The overall cost of living index of 84 includes low index values for utilities, services, and healthcare. The Blackhawk Farms Raceway and Carl and Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve are nearby for affordable fun.
More on Beloit: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,125
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $62,514
Median Home Price: $292,014
Median Rent: $820
In Calumet County, you’ll find the tenth cheapest city in the state – Menasha. It just made it onto the list with a 84 overall cost of living index 10 points lower than the state average.
The home price to income ratio of 4.67 places 118th best statewide. Home to Barlow Planetarium, Menasha is a magnet for those looking for a good deal in Wisconsin.
More on Menasha: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Cheapest places to live in Wisconsin FAQs
The county in Wisconsin with the lowest cost of living is Dane County. The average living wage in Dane County is $103,834 according to MIT data. Dane County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Wisconsin as a whole. Childcare costs $25,655 a year in Dane County for two children compared to the Wisconsin average of $19,401. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $14,532 per year in Dane County compared to $10,946 on average in Wisconsin.
The cost of living in Wisconsin is 3.2% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Wisconsin is $92,622 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Wisconsin household is $63,293.
The cheapest housing market in Wisconsin is Antigo. The average home value in Antigo is $69,400, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Wisconsin is $189,200, almost 2.7 times higher than Antigo.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Badger State for 2024
Determining affordability for places in Wisconsin boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Wisconsin using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Wisconsin to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 141 places in Wisconsin that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Wisconsin with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Merrill.
We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Wisconsin for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Wisconsin.
The cheapest cities in Wisconsin are Merrill, Wisconsin Rapids, Shawano, Rhinelander, Antigo, Wausau, Manitowoc, Marinette, Beloit, and Menasha.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Wisconsin according to the data:
- Mequon
- Delafield
- Whitefish Bay
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
- Worst Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Best Places To Buy A House In Wisconsin
- Best Places To Live In Wisconsin
Cheapest Places To Live In Wisconsin
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merrill | 9,266 | 79 | $48,378 | $180,411 | $703 |
| 2 | Wisconsin Rapids | 18,783 | 80 | $51,186 | $187,866 | $868 |
| 3 | Shawano | 9,212 | 81 | $54,848 | $203,619 | $737 |
| 4 | Rhinelander | 8,236 | 81 | $47,730 | $225,786 | $867 |
| 5 | Antigo | 8,075 | 81 | $45,581 | $146,364 | $722 |
| 6 | Wausau | 39,906 | 82 | $59,259 | $203,400 | $898 |
| 7 | Manitowoc | 34,500 | 82 | $60,040 | $199,459 | $743 |
| 8 | Marinette | 11,065 | 83 | $54,969 | $166,215 | $751 |
| 9 | Beloit | 36,642 | 84 | $57,168 | $165,823 | $957 |
| 10 | Menasha | 18,125 | 84 | $62,514 | $292,014 | $820 |
| 11 | Two Rivers | 11,252 | 84 | $56,236 | $256,600 | $744 |
| 12 | Tomah | 9,527 | 84 | $55,203 | $226,985 | $928 |
| 13 | New London | 7,342 | 84 | $53,580 | $190,917 | $858 |
| 14 | Green Bay | 106,846 | 85 | $59,174 | $233,414 | $864 |
| 15 | Sparta | 9,943 | 85 | $55,308 | $239,695 | $902 |
| 16 | Stevens Point | 25,549 | 86 | $53,611 | $235,226 | $855 |
| 17 | Marshfield | 18,795 | 86 | $58,474 | $223,593 | $799 |
| 18 | Little Chute | 11,798 | 87 | $69,102 | $250,340 | $1,042 |
| 19 | Waupaca | 6,294 | 87 | $56,076 | $269,090 | $747 |
| 20 | Appleton | 75,133 | 88 | $75,469 | $256,611 | $913 |
| 21 | Sheboygan | 49,805 | 88 | $59,861 | $210,593 | $853 |
| 22 | Sturgeon Bay | 9,620 | 88 | $55,791 | $327,051 | $952 |
| 23 | Racine | 77,453 | 89 | $52,766 | $174,516 | $967 |
| 24 | Janesville | 65,669 | 89 | $68,610 | $248,170 | $993 |
| 25 | Ashwaubenon | 16,939 | 89 | $67,748 | $289,524 | $895 |
| 26 | Waupun | 11,109 | 89 | $66,033 | $216,145 | $797 |
| 27 | Berlin | 5,537 | 89 | $57,656 | $162,521 | $783 |
| 28 | Prairie du Chien | 5,502 | 89 | $52,400 | $180,549 | $806 |
| 29 | Kaukauna | 17,111 | 90 | $74,575 | $258,413 | $973 |
| 30 | Weston | 15,698 | 90 | $71,466 | $250,370 | $920 |
| 31 | Allouez | 14,089 | 90 | $84,198 | $274,547 | $959 |
| 32 | Plymouth | 8,907 | 90 | $65,893 | $279,607 | $848 |
| 33 | Ashland | 7,903 | 90 | $47,239 | $179,999 | $685 |
| 34 | Ripon | 7,823 | 90 | $56,563 | $183,554 | $715 |
| 35 | Rothschild | 5,537 | 90 | $84,963 | $214,618 | $827 |
| 36 | North Fond du Lac | 5,372 | 90 | $63,342 | $167,126 | $1,024 |
| 37 | Richland Center | 5,058 | 90 | $54,295 | $158,102 | $669 |
| 38 | Milwaukee | 573,299 | 91 | $49,733 | $191,843 | $982 |
| 39 | Oshkosh | 66,373 | 91 | $59,186 | $219,076 | $860 |
| 40 | West Allis | 59,907 | 91 | $64,888 | $236,211 | $954 |
| 41 | Fond du Lac | 44,527 | 91 | $58,675 | $198,830 | $868 |
| 42 | Chippewa Falls | 14,623 | 91 | $58,558 | $275,687 | $895 |
| 43 | Elkhorn | 10,253 | 91 | $72,958 | $310,154 | $951 |
| 44 | Rice Lake | 8,990 | 91 | $44,494 | $250,957 | $816 |
| 45 | Kimberly | 7,331 | 91 | $65,061 | $243,898 | $848 |
| 46 | Mayville | 5,176 | 91 | $62,645 | $221,037 | $759 |
| 47 | Cudahy | 18,087 | 92 | $66,592 | $248,599 | $949 |
| 48 | Beaver Dam | 16,652 | 92 | $65,802 | $239,342 | $936 |
| 49 | Plover | 13,549 | 92 | $76,120 | $296,269 | $985 |
| 50 | Reedsburg | 10,019 | 92 | $66,026 | $265,464 | $875 |
| 51 | St. Francis | 9,288 | 92 | $51,749 | $250,548 | $882 |
| 52 | Sturtevant | 6,823 | 92 | $83,816 | $245,292 | $1,071 |
| 53 | Kenosha | 99,493 | 93 | $64,963 | $230,818 | $1,079 |
| 54 | Monroe | 10,622 | 93 | $62,191 | $237,656 | $807 |
| 55 | Portage | 10,450 | 93 | $59,619 | $244,455 | $930 |
| 56 | Delavan | 8,519 | 93 | $69,238 | $286,756 | $987 |
| 57 | Neenah | 27,309 | 94 | $71,280 | $295,098 | $904 |
| 58 | Baraboo | 12,541 | 94 | $66,592 | $246,414 | $909 |
| 59 | Platteville | 11,543 | 94 | $46,554 | $227,451 | $872 |
| 60 | New Richmond | 10,158 | 94 | $78,077 | $345,613 | $959 |
| 61 | Kronenwetter | 8,335 | 94 | $107,727 | $288,694 | $1,023 |
| 62 | Sheboygan Falls | 8,163 | 94 | $66,416 | $273,284 | $814 |
| 63 | La Crosse | 52,043 | 95 | $51,836 | $237,653 | $941 |
| 64 | West Bend | 31,682 | 95 | $71,904 | $300,826 | $973 |
| 65 | De Pere | 25,373 | 95 | $78,733 | $337,383 | $979 |
| 66 | Menomonie | 16,563 | 95 | $51,250 | $273,762 | $899 |
| 67 | Milton | 5,692 | 95 | $78,957 | $293,485 | $890 |
| 68 | Eau Claire | 69,098 | 96 | $63,882 | $282,687 | $929 |
| 69 | Superior | 26,562 | 96 | $54,935 | $198,624 | $817 |
| 70 | South Milwaukee | 20,678 | 96 | $68,801 | $256,703 | $979 |
| 71 | Howard | 20,022 | 96 | $77,118 | $340,552 | $998 |
| 72 | Bellevue | 16,086 | 96 | $76,152 | $345,424 | $1,039 |
| 73 | Whitewater | 15,725 | 96 | $46,135 | $295,965 | $912 |
| 74 | Lake Geneva | 8,335 | 96 | $62,883 | $341,584 | $1,090 |
| 75 | Evansville | 5,720 | 96 | $83,431 | $299,429 | $799 |
| 76 | Watertown | 22,978 | 97 | $67,189 | $266,947 | $1,045 |
| 77 | Brown Deer | 12,593 | 97 | $88,164 | $253,305 | $991 |
| 78 | Burlington | 11,000 | 97 | $80,529 | $305,324 | $939 |
| 79 | Jefferson | 7,778 | 97 | $69,844 | $285,758 | $969 |
| 80 | Edgerton | 5,878 | 97 | $80,255 | $255,568 | $1,056 |
| 81 | Columbus | 5,481 | 97 | $65,727 | $268,346 | $819 |
| 82 | Greenfield | 37,521 | 98 | $67,536 | $291,988 | $1,096 |
| 83 | Hartford | 15,667 | 98 | $70,887 | $324,957 | $990 |
| 84 | Fort Atkinson | 12,522 | 98 | $72,215 | $256,174 | $969 |
| 85 | Twin Lakes | 6,341 | 98 | $88,770 | $332,070 | $1,063 |
| 86 | River Falls | 16,165 | 99 | $72,247 | $370,227 | $1,004 |
| 87 | Suamico | 12,878 | 99 | $111,320 | $396,184 | $1,188 |
| 88 | Altoona | 8,506 | 99 | $77,002 | $306,195 | $980 |
| 89 | Jackson | 7,814 | 99 | $94,621 | $367,088 | $1,151 |
| 90 | Lake Hallie | 7,178 | 99 | $76,134 | $308,070 | $1,019 |
| 91 | Slinger | 6,055 | 99 | $92,984 | $404,668 | $1,052 |
| 92 | Waukesha | 70,945 | 100 | $77,558 | $328,532 | $1,115 |
| 93 | Mount Pleasant | 27,640 | 100 | $83,827 | $292,158 | $1,023 |
| 94 | Port Washington | 12,446 | 100 | $76,609 | $322,974 | $1,052 |
| 95 | Waterford | 5,587 | 100 | $81,575 | $383,978 | $1,179 |
| 96 | Caledonia | 25,277 | 101 | $90,346 | $327,335 | $982 |
| 97 | Holmen | 10,806 | 101 | $77,880 | $357,250 | $1,093 |
| 98 | Lake Mills | 6,280 | 101 | $77,449 | $364,364 | $1,082 |
| 99 | Onalaska | 18,837 | 102 | $80,296 | $315,396 | $1,049 |
| 100 | Grafton | 12,160 | 102 | $83,500 | $377,473 | $1,109 |