A+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
25%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Menasha Wisconsin National
Cost of living9095100
Goods & Services9899100
Groceries100100100
Health care104100100
Housing7589100
Transportation9599100
Utilities8591100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Menasha, WI

Knowing the cost of living in Menasha allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Menasha stands at 90, marking it 10% lower than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Menasha?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 11 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Menasha. The results indicated that 45% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 55% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Menasha Affordable?

Wondering if Menasha is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Menasha, for example, the median home price is 25.4% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 23.8% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Menasha boasting a median household income of $78,830, which is 3.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Menasha?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Menasha, the healthcare costs are 3.6% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Menasha, the groceries index is 0.2% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Menasha 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Menasha is 6% lower than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Menasha is 10% lower than the national average
  • Menasha housing is 25% lower 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 Menasha

See all the best places to live around Menasha

Compare Menasha, 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$112,224$9,352$2,618$3,367
      Renters$45,867$3,822$1,070$1,376
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Menasha, WI, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Menasha homeowners, is $112,224. This would allow for a maximum of $2,618 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $45,867 which would result in a maximum of $1,070 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 Menasha National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.61$27.620.0%
      Beauty Salon $42.67$51.1116.5%
      Toothpaste $4.17$4.091.9%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.5413.1%
      Movie $13.23$12.882.7%
      Yoga $14.11$19.6628.2%

      Groceries

      Item Menasha National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.09$7.705.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.52$1.668.6%
      Milk $4.69$4.730.9%
      Potatoes $4.70$5.2610.6%
      Pizza $10.79$12.7615.5%
      Beer $8.94$10.5515.3%

      Health Care

      Item Menasha National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $157.48$140.0612.4%
      Doctor $226.36$153.8247.2%
      Dentist $121.67$123.151.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.96$11.731.9%
      Lipitor $13.43$23.6143.1%

      Housing

      Item Menasha National avg. Difference
      Home Price $243,568.00$326,622.0025.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,505.38$2,480.251.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,100.00$1,444.0023.8%

      Transportation

      Item Menasha National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.03$3.061.0%
      Tire Balancing $56.25$65.2113.7%

      Utilities

      Item Menasha National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $172.82$220.1221.5%
      Phone $189.83$195.713.0%
      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.
      Hilbert, WI1,0738712.6%
      Chilton, WI3,9748911.5%
      Forest Junction, WI7029010.2%
      Oshkosh, WI69,404919.5%
      Dale, WI752919.3%
      Menasha, WI18,9209010.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Greater Vancouver A, BC18,924n/a 
      Orange, TX18,9268712.8%
      Maumelle, AR18,8981054.5%
      Rutherford, NJ18,89114242.2%
      Winchester, KY18,950919.2%
      Menasha, WI18,9209010.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.