A
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
28%
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 Superior Wisconsin National
Cost of living9496100
Goods & Services10997100
Groceries9799100
Health care124112100
Housing7288100
Transportation9998100
Utilities93102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Superior, WI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Superior? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Superior stands at 94, making it 6% 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 Superior 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. Superior 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 Superior?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 5 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Superior. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 20% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 80% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Superior Affordable?

Wondering if Superior is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Superior, for example, the median home price is 32.1% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 18.5% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Superior boasting a median household income of $48,830, which is 11.7% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Superior?

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Superior, the transportation index stands at 0.9% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Superior, the groceries index is 2.9% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Superior 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 Superior is 1% lower than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Superior is 6% lower than the national average
  • Superior housing is 28% 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 Superior

See all the best places to live around Superior

Compare Superior, WI Cost of Living

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      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$71,260$5,938$1,663$2,138
      Renters$30,140$2,512$703$904
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Superior, WI, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Superior have a median income of $71,260. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,663 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $30,140, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $703.

      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 Superior National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.97$24.2615.3%
      Beauty Salon $37.17$45.5618.4%
      Toothpaste $3.62$3.702.2%
      Shampoo $1.52$1.2818.6%
      Movie $11.24$12.137.4%
      Bowling $26.39$18.0046.6%

      Groceries

      Item Superior National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.75$5.841.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.35$1.5713.9%
      Milk $4.58$4.672.0%
      Potatoes $4.86$4.931.4%
      Pizza $13.07$12.098.2%
      Beer $9.52$10.418.5%

      Health Care

      Item Superior National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $109.94$125.6812.5%
      Doctor $162.98$135.7820.0%
      Dentist $96.90$113.2914.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.88$10.652.1%
      Lipitor $492.95$468.605.2%

      Housing

      Item Superior National avg. Difference
      Home Price $125,400.00$184,700.0032.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,954.72$2,346.6916.7%
      Apartment Rent $773.00$949.0018.5%

      Transportation

      Item Superior National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.31$3.464.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.97$59.923.4%

      Utilities

      Item Superior National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $175.69$193.999.4%
      Phone $188.55$192.251.9%
      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.
      Proctor, MN3,039963.8%
      Carlton, MN1,006973.4%
      Oliver, WI278972.7%
      Wrenshall, MN4591000.2%
      Duluth, MN85,8521000.1%
      Superior, WI26,260945.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Plainview, NY26,26716766.6%
      Galt, CA26,23513231.9%
      Clarksburg, MD26,23415352.9%
      Orchards, WA26,28912525.5%
      Smithtown, NY26,19715655.6%
      Superior, WI26,260945.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.