2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Wausau, WI vs Appleton, WI

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Appleton or is it cheaper to live in Wausau?
- Appleton is 4.0% more expensive than Wausau.

Which city has more affordable housing, Appleton or Wausau?
- Appleton housing costs are 19.8% more expensive than Wausau housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Wausau or is Health Care more affordable in Appleton.
- Health related expenses are 3.1% less in Appleton.
 Wausau, WIAppleton, WIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock88.1100
 Food & Groceries91.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock95.3100
 Housing58.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$222,800$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock74.1100
 Miscellaneous116.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Wausau    6 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

I visited Wausau during the summer and it was a very nice change from Phoenix. The people were friendly & helpful. It was a little humid than what I’m used to but  More

   |    Reply

Beautiful area geographically but beneath that beauty are some of the most overly conservative, unfriendly, judgemental people anywhere. Very hard to make friends here  More

   |    Reply

I LIVED IN WAUSAU WI OVER 23 YEARS AGO. I RELOCATED TO WYOMING IN 1990 FOR GOVERMENT POSITION. NOW RETIRED FROM FEDERAL SERVICE, I WILL BE MOVING BACK TO THE UPPER  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Wausau

Reviews for Appleton    23 Reviews

Just to clarify my earlier review, the people are generally unfriendly, except the overweight women( 90% of women here) are friendly. Tailgatings on 1-41 an 441 is very  More

   |    Reply

Over 7 years ago

Women here are very heavy. People are rude here, will cut you off in public and not say a word. People at the gym walk in and do not even look at you, even though you  More

   |    Reply

Over 8 years ago

Something is happening in Appleton. The place used to be called the shopping capital of Wisco. But, slowly this rather commercial-sounding moniker is being replaced by  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Appleton


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.