F
23%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
73%
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 Brookfield Wisconsin National
Cost of living12396100
Goods & Services9997100
Groceries10399100
Health care111112100
Housing17388100
Transportation9998100
Utilities105102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Brookfield, WI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Brookfield? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Brookfield stands at 123, making it 23% higher 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.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Brookfield may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Brookfield falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Brookfield, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 72.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Brookfield Affordable?

Is Brookfield an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Brookfield, the median home price is 79.5% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 57.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Brookfield come in at $107,380, which is 94.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Brookfield?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Brookfield, healthcare costs are 10.5% higher than the national average.

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 Brookfield, the transportation index stands at 1.1% lower than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Brookfield, the utilities index registers 5.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Brookfield 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Brookfield is 28% higher than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Brookfield is 23% higher than the national average
  • Brookfield housing is 73% higher 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 Brookfield

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Compare Brookfield, WI Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      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$113,878$9,490$2,657$3,417
      Renters$82,632$6,886$1,928$2,479
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Brookfield is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Brookfield has a median income of about $113,878 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,657 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $82,632. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,928 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Brookfield National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.21$24.2616.7%
      Beauty Salon $33.25$45.5627.0%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.07$1.2816.6%
      Movie $10.26$12.1315.5%
      Bowling $10.03$18.0044.3%

      Groceries

      Item Brookfield National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.05$5.843.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.577.3%
      Milk $4.55$4.672.7%
      Potatoes $4.10$4.9317.0%
      Pizza $11.33$12.096.3%
      Beer $8.52$10.4118.2%

      Health Care

      Item Brookfield National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $278.65$125.68121.7%
      Doctor $223.73$135.7864.8%
      Dentist $106.79$113.295.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.29$10.653.4%
      Lipitor $469.65$468.600.2%

      Housing

      Item Brookfield National avg. Difference
      Home Price $331,500.00$184,700.0079.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,879.64$2,346.6919.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,495.00$949.0057.5%

      Transportation

      Item Brookfield National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.30$3.464.5%
      Tire Balancing $44.14$59.9226.3%

      Utilities

      Item Brookfield National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $182.69$193.995.8%
      Phone $185.79$192.253.4%
      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.
      Milwaukee, WI592,649936.5%
      West Milwaukee, WI4,128945.7%
      West Allis, WI59,861964.4%
      Lannon, WI1,184964.2%
      St. Francis, WI9,600964.1%
      Brookfield, WI38,62612322.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Security-Widefield, CO38,64511414.4%
      Pacifica, CA38,663219118.5%
      Wheeling, IL38,6841087.7%
      Wausau, WI38,6858415.7%
      Mission Bend, TX38,6931021.6%
      Brookfield, WI38,62612322.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.