50 states · WI

Wisconsin cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: Wisconsin has a cost-of-living index of 97.4 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $48,700, median household income of $77,488, combined average sales tax about 5.43%, and regular gas about $3.754/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index97.4100 = US baseline

Est. annual COL$48,700

Median HH income$77,488

Sales tax (comb.)5.43%

Gas (87 octane)$3.754/galJune 2026 AAA

Largest cityMilwaukee (561,385)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: Graduated/flat hybrid up to 7.65%

Sales tax: 5% state (combined avg. ~5.43%)

Major industries: Manufacturing (machinery, autos, paper), agriculture (dairy, cranberries), tourism, healthcare

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~81°F (July) · Winter low ~12°F (January)

Culture (context)

Milwaukee Art Museum / Harley-Davidson Museum

Wisconsin State Fair (West Allis) — major cultural & agricultural event
Summerfest (Milwaukee) — one of the largest music festivals in the world

Open the interactive 50-state map & table — sort, filter, and use the dual ranker on the full explorer.

What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 97.4 in Wisconsin. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 97.4% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: Wisconsin vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

Read the quick answer for Wisconsin's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
Open the 50-state explorer and compare Wisconsin with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

Related calculators: mortgage · rent · paycheck.

Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

North Carolina — COL 96.6 (Δ 0.8 index pts)
Pennsylvania — COL 96.2 (Δ 1.2 index pts)
Virginia — COL 99.1 (Δ 1.7 index pts)

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FAQ

What is Wisconsin's cost of living index?

Wisconsin's cost-of-living index is 97.4 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in Wisconsin?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $48,700 for Wisconsin.

What is median household income in Wisconsin?

Median household income in Wisconsin is $77,488 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in Wisconsin?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for Wisconsin is 5.43%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does Wisconsin have a state income tax?

State income tax in Wisconsin: Graduated/flat hybrid up to 7.65%.

What was regular gas in Wisconsin in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $3.754 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read Wisconsin's cost-of-living index?

The index is 97.4 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 97.4% of that salary to buy the same basket in Wisconsin in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice.