C
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
30%
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 Sun Prairie Wisconsin National
Cost of living11396100
Goods & Services10697100
Groceries10299100
Health care120112100
Housing13088100
Transportation10198100
Utilities109102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Sun Prairie, WI

The cost of living in Sun Prairie affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Sun Prairie is 113, which is 13% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Sun Prairie cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 30.3% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Sun Prairie Affordable?

Wondering if Sun Prairie 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 Sun Prairie, for example, the median home price is 35% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 19.2% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Sun Prairie boasting a median household income of $79,566, which is 43.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Sun Prairie?

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Sun Prairie, healthcare costs are 19.7% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Sun Prairie starts at 5% and the income tax rates start at 3.54%.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Sun Prairie, the utilities index is 9.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Sun Prairie displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Sun Prairie is 18% higher than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Sun Prairie is 13% higher than the national average
  • Sun Prairie housing is 30% 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 Sun Prairie

See all the best places to live around Sun Prairie

Compare Sun Prairie, 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$99,466$8,289$2,321$2,984
      Renters$51,364$4,280$1,198$1,541
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Sun Prairie, WI, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Sun Prairie, homeowners have a median income of $99,466. Using that number, a maximum of $2,321 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $51,364, which means there is a maximum of $1,198 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Sun Prairie National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.26$24.260.0%
      Beauty Salon $66.46$45.5645.9%
      Toothpaste $3.76$3.701.7%
      Shampoo $1.22$1.284.8%
      Movie $12.47$12.132.8%
      Bowling $27.76$18.0054.2%

      Groceries

      Item Sun Prairie National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.27$5.847.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.45$1.578.1%
      Milk $4.79$4.672.5%
      Potatoes $4.20$4.9315.0%
      Pizza $10.96$12.099.3%
      Beer $8.82$10.4115.3%

      Health Care

      Item Sun Prairie National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $70.37$125.6844.0%
      Doctor $222.85$135.7864.1%
      Dentist $122.45$113.298.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.72$10.650.6%
      Lipitor $506.88$468.608.2%

      Housing

      Item Sun Prairie National avg. Difference
      Home Price $249,400.00$184,700.0035.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,571.07$2,346.699.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,131.00$949.0019.2%

      Transportation

      Item Sun Prairie National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.39$3.462.0%
      Tire Balancing $65.66$59.929.6%

      Utilities

      Item Sun Prairie National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $226.90$193.9917.0%
      Phone $185.25$192.253.6%
      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.
      Waterloo, WI3,3341010.6%
      Columbus, WI5,0761010.9%
      Rockdale, WI2101033.3%
      Marshall, WI3,9751054.6%
      Poynette, WI2,5071055.1%
      Sun Prairie, WI33,95411313.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Salisbury, NC33,961909.7%
      North Ridgeville, OH33,961991.3%
      Pullman, WA33,97411414.1%
      Merritt Island, FL33,97511211.8%
      Cookeville, TN33,922927.8%
      Sun Prairie, WI33,95411313.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.