States › Wisconsin › Wisconsin Rapids

Is Wisconsin Rapids, WI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 20 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$98644% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$59,590about $4,966/month · 32% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$131,90060% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 89% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $39,440 a year. That is $19 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 21 of 156 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Wisconsin Rapids
$986
Marshfield
$822
Oconomowoc
$1,631
Fox Crossing
$1,069
Menasha
$1,223
Onalaska
$1,356
Cudahy
$1,375

How much do households earn in Wisconsin Rapids?

Under $25k
20.3%
$25k–50k
31.1%
$50k–100k
34.2%
$100k–150k
9.0%
$150k+
3.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 12.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Wisconsin Rapids

SizeWisconsin RapidsU.S. average
Studio$3,500+$1,338
1 bedroom$651$1,324
2 bedrooms$979$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,303$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,192$2,098

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

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

Taxes and bills in Wisconsin Rapids

🏛️ Property tax$2,384a year · 1.81% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$115a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Wisconsin Rapids

Commute to work20.1 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree18.1%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home56.1%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line14.8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment6.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wisconsin Rapids?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $71 a month less than renting.

Renting
$986
Owning
$915

Owning assumes a typical $131,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $13,190 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

Renting in Wisconsin Rapids costs a median of about $986 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Wisconsin median is $1,305.

How much do I need to make to live in Wisconsin Rapids?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $39,440 a year, or $19 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Wisconsin Rapids cheap or expensive?

Wisconsin Rapids is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.9% of the typical household income of $59,590. It ranks 21st cheapest of 156 Wisconsin cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Wisconsin Rapids?

The median homeowner in Wisconsin Rapids pays $2,384 a year in property taxes, about 1.81% of the median home value.

Is Wisconsin Rapids 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 Wisconsin Rapids?

The median home value in Wisconsin Rapids is $131,900, about 2.2 times the typical yearly household income.

18,722 people live in Wisconsin Rapids. Numbers are typical (middle) values.