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Wausau, WI

Cost of living in Marathon County, WI

Part of the Wausau Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,891/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 138,067 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $803 28%
Federal tax $565 20%
Healthcare $480 17%
Groceries $329 11%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $179 6%
State tax $165 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Marathon County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$723
per month
1 bedroom
$803
per month
2 bedroom
$1,054
per month
3 bedroom
$1,379
per month
4 bedroom
$1,397
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Marathon County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$76,185
per year
Individual earnings
$44,624
per year
Per capita
$39,970
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Marathon County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$205,500
Annual property tax
$3,108

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Marathon County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$121
per month · 17.3¢/kWh
Natural gas
$58
per month
Annual total
$2,148
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Marathon County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.0%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Marathon County

State and local tax rates for Wisconsin.

State income tax
7.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
5.0%
Combined sales tax
5.4%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Marathon County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
19.3 min
Drive alone
76.5%
Public transit
0.3%
Work from home
11.7%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Marathon County

What it costs to live in Marathon County each month.

Single person
$2,891
per month
  • Rent $803
  • Energy $179
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $329
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $565
  • State tax $165
Couple
$4,379
per month
  • Rent $1,054
  • Energy $215
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $545
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $917
  • State tax $304
Family
$6,835
per month
  • Rent $1,379
  • Energy $268
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $827
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $917
  • State tax $304

Frequently asked questions about Marathon County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Marathon County?

In Marathon County, WI, a one-bedroom apartment averages $803 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,054 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,379 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Marathon County?

In Marathon County, WI, the average household income is $76,185 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $44,624 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Marathon County?

The estimated cost of living in Marathon County, WI is approximately $2,891 per month for a single person, $4,379 for a couple, $6,835 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Marathon County?

The combined sales tax rate in Marathon County, WI is 5.44%, which includes the Wisconsin state rate of 5.00% plus an average local rate of 0.44%.

Is Marathon County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Marathon County, WI would need approximately $2,891 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $76,185 per year ($6,349 per month). Marathon County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Marathon County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Marathon County, WI is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.0% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Marathon County?

The average home value in Marathon County, WI is $205,500, with average annual property taxes of $3,108, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Marathon County compare to other areas?

You can compare Marathon County, WI with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Marathon County is in the Wausau, WI metro area.

Other counties in Wisconsin

Browse the full list of counties in Wisconsin, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Wisconsin

Compare Marathon County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources