States › Wisconsin › River Falls

Is River Falls, WI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 16 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,22830% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$90,192about $7,516/month · 4% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$327,6002% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 74% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $49,120 a year. That is $24 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 62 of 156 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

River Falls
$1,228
Beaver Dam
$1,061
Menomonie
$992
Bellevue
$1,291
Pewaukee
$2,019
Ashwaubenon
$1,230
Hartford
$1,234

How much do households earn in River Falls?

Under $25k
10.0%
$25k–50k
22.1%
$50k–100k
39.5%
$100k–150k
18.0%
$150k+
8.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 26.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in River Falls

SizeRiver FallsU.S. average
Studio$717$1,338
1 bedroom$802$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,204$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,862$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,886$2,098

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

How expensive is River Falls 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 River Falls, so the Wisconsin figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in River Falls

🏛️ Property tax$4,638a year · 1.42% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$141a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in River Falls

Commute to work22 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree44.9%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home55.1%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line15.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in River Falls?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,045 a month less.

Renting
$1,228
Owning
$2,273

Owning assumes a typical $327,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $32,760 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in River Falls, WI?

Renting in River Falls costs a median of about $1,228 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Wisconsin median is $1,305.

How much do I need to make to live in River Falls?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $49,120 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is River Falls cheap or expensive?

River Falls is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.3% of the typical household income of $90,192. It ranks 62nd cheapest of 156 Wisconsin cities we track.

How much are property taxes in River Falls?

The median homeowner in River Falls pays $4,638 a year in property taxes, about 1.42% of the median home value.

Is River Falls 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 River Falls?

The median home value in River Falls is $327,600, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.

16,719 people live in River Falls. Numbers are typical (middle) values.