A+
9%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
22%
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 Green Bay Wisconsin National
Cost of living9196100
Goods & Services9597100
Groceries9899100
Health care95112100
Housing7888100
Transportation9998100
Utilities98102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Green Bay, WI

The cost of living in Green Bay affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Green Bay is 91, which is 9% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

In Green Bay, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Green Bay will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Green Bay?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 5 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Green Bay and this is how they responded. 60% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 40% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Green Bay Affordable?

Is Green Bay an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Green Bay, the median home price is 23.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 19.1% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Green Bay come in at $52,214, which is 5.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Green Bay?

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 Green Bay, the transportation index is 1.5% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, 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 farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Green Bay, the utilities index registers at 2.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Green Bay cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Green Bay is 5% lower than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Green Bay is 9% lower than the national average
  • Green Bay housing is 22% 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 Green Bay

See all the best places to live around Green Bay

Compare Green Bay, 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$68,509$5,709$1,598$2,055
      Renters$35,186$2,932$821$1,056
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Green Bay, WI, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Green Bay, homeowners have a median income of $68,509. Using that number, a maximum of $1,598 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $35,186, which means there is a maximum of $821 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Green Bay National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.11$24.2617.1%
      Beauty Salon $30.55$45.5632.9%
      Toothpaste $3.73$3.700.7%
      Shampoo $1.29$1.281.0%
      Movie $14.24$12.1317.4%
      Bowling $17.83$18.000.9%

      Groceries

      Item Green Bay National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.10$5.844.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.42$1.579.5%
      Milk $4.73$4.671.3%
      Potatoes $4.35$4.9311.9%
      Pizza $10.54$12.0912.8%
      Beer $8.87$10.4114.8%

      Health Care

      Item Green Bay National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $78.75$125.6837.3%
      Doctor $157.90$135.7816.3%
      Dentist $104.06$113.298.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.58$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $357.09$468.6023.8%

      Housing

      Item Green Bay National avg. Difference
      Home Price $142,000.00$184,700.0023.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,027.96$2,346.6913.6%
      Apartment Rent $768.00$949.0019.1%

      Transportation

      Item Green Bay National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.32$3.464.2%
      Tire Balancing $63.04$59.925.2%

      Utilities

      Item Green Bay National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $191.22$193.991.4%
      Phone $185.40$192.253.6%
      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.
      Sobieski, WI4238713.4%
      Denmark, WI2,3469010.4%
      Greenleaf, WI643927.6%
      Allouez, WI13,853955.4%
      Pulaski, WI3,492964.5%
      Green Bay, WI104,508919.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Norwalk, CA104,52414949.2%
      Wichita Falls, TX104,6578515.1%
      Clarington, ON104,855n/a 
      San Tan Valley, AZ104,93611717.1%
      Allen, TX104,04012928.6%
      Green Bay, WI104,508919.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.