States › Wisconsin › Rice Lake

Is Rice Lake, WI expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 24 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,13835% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$56,532about $4,711/month · 35% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$193,80042% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 80% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.4 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 13.2 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $45,520 a year. That is $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Wisconsin cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Wisconsin. It is number 47 of 156 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Rice Lake
$1,138
St. Francis
$2,180
McFarland
$1,925
Plymouth
$1,108
Altoona
$1,722
Merrill
$437
Delavan
$1,042

How much do households earn in Rice Lake?

Under $25k
20.6%
$25k–50k
28.3%
$50k–100k
34.5%
$100k–150k
5.6%
$150k+
7.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 12.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Rice Lake

SizeRice LakeU.S. average
1 bedroom$568$1,324
2 bedrooms$992$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,211$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Rice Lake overall?

Everyday prices in Wisconsin overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
79
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
90
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Rice Lake, so the Wisconsin figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Rice Lake

🏛️ Property tax$3,200a year · 1.65% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$112a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Rice Lake

Commute to work13.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree25.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home55.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.2%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rice Lake?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $207 a month less.

Renting
$1,138
Owning
$1,345

Owning assumes a typical $193,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $19,380 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Rice Lake, WI?

Renting in Rice Lake costs a median of about $1,138 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Wisconsin median is $1,305.

How much do I need to make to live in Rice Lake?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $45,520 a year, or $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Rice Lake cheap or expensive?

Rice Lake is rated OK: rent takes 24.2% of the typical household income of $56,532. It ranks 47th cheapest of 156 Wisconsin cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Rice Lake?

The median homeowner in Rice Lake pays $3,200 a year in property taxes, about 1.65% of the median home value.

Is Rice Lake more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Wisconsin are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Rice Lake?

The median home value in Rice Lake is $193,800, about 3.4 times the typical yearly household income.

9,030 people live in Rice Lake. Numbers are typical (middle) values.