Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Cost of living in Waukesha County, WI

Part of the Milwaukee Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,402/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 409,040 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,056 31%
Federal tax $768 23%
Healthcare $480 14%
Groceries $329 10%
Transport $320 9%
State tax $220 6%
Energy $179 5%
Water $50 1%

Rent in Waukesha County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$939
per month
1 bedroom
$1,056
per month
2 bedroom
$1,257
per month
3 bedroom
$1,558
per month
4 bedroom
$1,701
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Waukesha County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$104,100
per year
Individual earnings
$56,995
per year
Per capita
$57,291
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Waukesha County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$373,600
Annual property tax
$4,525

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Waukesha 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 Waukesha County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
3.0%

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 Waukesha 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 Waukesha County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
22.8 min
Drive alone
77.5%
Public transit
0.2%
Work from home
15.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Waukesha County

What it costs to live in Waukesha County each month.

Single person
$3,402
per month
  • Rent $1,056
  • Energy $179
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $329
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $768
  • State tax $220
Couple
$5,163
per month
  • Rent $1,257
  • Energy $215
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $545
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,374
  • State tax $428
Family
$7,595
per month
  • Rent $1,558
  • Energy $268
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $827
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,374
  • State tax $428

Frequently asked questions about Waukesha County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Waukesha County?

In Waukesha County, WI, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,056 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,257 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,558 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Waukesha County?

In Waukesha County, WI, the average household income is $104,100 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $56,995 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Waukesha County?

The estimated cost of living in Waukesha County, WI is approximately $3,402 per month for a single person, $5,163 for a couple, $7,595 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Waukesha County?

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

Is Waukesha County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Waukesha County, WI would need approximately $3,402 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $104,100 per year ($8,675 per month). Waukesha County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Waukesha County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Waukesha County, WI is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 3.0% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Waukesha County?

The average home value in Waukesha County, WI is $373,600, with average annual property taxes of $4,525, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Waukesha County compare to other areas?

You can compare Waukesha County, WI with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Waukesha County is in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, 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 Waukesha 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