C-
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
41%
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 Sussex Wisconsin National
Cost of living11396100
Goods & Services9997100
Groceries10399100
Health care111112100
Housing14188100
Transportation9998100
Utilities105102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Sussex, WI

The cost of living in Sussex 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 Sussex 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 major factor in the Sussex cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 41.4% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Sussex Affordable?

Is Sussex affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Sussex, for instance, where the median home price falls 56.4% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 6.6% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Sussex flaunting a median household income of $94,065, 70% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Sussex?

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Sussex, the transportation index is 1.1% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Sussex comes in at 5.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Sussex, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Sussex is 18% higher than the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in Sussex is 13% higher than the national average
  • Sussex housing is 41% 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 Sussex

See all the best places to live around Sussex

Compare Sussex, WI Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$115,185$9,599$2,687$3,456
      Renters$57,778$4,815$1,348$1,734
      The affordability of the housing market in Sussex, WI as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Sussex homeowners, the median income is $115,185. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,687 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $57,778. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,348 for their rent related monthly 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 Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex National avg. Difference
      Home Price $288,800.00$184,700.0056.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,879.64$2,346.6919.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,012.00$949.006.6%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Sussex 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.
      West Milwaukee, WI4,128945.7%
      Neosho, WI637945.7%
      West Allis, WI59,861964.4%
      Lannon, WI1,184964.2%
      Butler, WI1,964982.0%
      Sussex, WI10,88411313.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      River Forest, IL10,88315453.9%
      Kings Mountain, NC10,885928.0%
      Malvern, AR10,8868416.2%
      Camden, AR10,8778218.1%
      Manchester, TN10,8968713.1%
      Sussex, WI10,88411313.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.