States › Wisconsin › Shawano

Is Shawano, WI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 19 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$95745% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$62,003about $5,167/month · 29% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$160,80052% lower than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 15.5 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $38,280 a year. That is $18 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 16 of 156 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Shawano
$957
Tomah
$992
Windsor
$1,786
Merrill
$437
Sturgeon Bay
$1,121
McFarland
$1,925
Sparta
$825

How much do households earn in Shawano?

Under $25k
17.1%
$25k–50k
32.1%
$50k–100k
34.5%
$100k–150k
7.6%
$150k+
4.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 12.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Shawano

SizeShawanoU.S. average
1 bedroom$764$1,324
2 bedrooms$950$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,272$1,698

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

How expensive is Shawano 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 Shawano, so the Wisconsin figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Shawano

🏛️ Property tax$2,712a year · 1.69% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$100a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Shawano

Commute to work15.5 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree20.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home56.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line14.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment0.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Shawano?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $159 a month less.

Renting
$957
Owning
$1,116

Owning assumes a typical $160,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $16,080 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Shawano, WI?

Renting in Shawano costs a median of about $957 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Wisconsin median is $1,305.

How much do I need to make to live in Shawano?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $38,280 a year, or $18 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Shawano cheap or expensive?

Shawano is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.5% of the typical household income of $62,003. It ranks 16th cheapest of 156 Wisconsin cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Shawano?

The median homeowner in Shawano pays $2,712 a year in property taxes, about 1.69% of the median home value.

Is Shawano 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 Shawano?

The median home value in Shawano is $160,800, about 2.6 times the typical yearly household income.

9,522 people live in Shawano. Numbers are typical (middle) values.