Overall
91.6
-8.4 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Fond du Lac, WI
Cost-of-living indicators for Fond du Lac, WI, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 91.6
- Overall RPP
- #255
- of 387 metros
- 67.3
- Rents RPP
- $109K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Fond du Lac costs less than 66% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 91.6, 8.4% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 67.3.
- 91.6
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #255
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 34%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 67.3
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $109,119 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $91,643.
What the Numbers Mean for Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac ranks #255 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the lower half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 91.6, Fond du Lac, WI is 8.4% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Fond du Lac's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 67.3 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $109,119 inside Fond du Lac, while a household needs roughly $91,643 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 67.3 — 32.7% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Fond du Lac's overall index has risen by 8.2 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.8 and services at 91.1, meaning everyday spending in Fond du Lac is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Fond du Lac vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
92 Top 66% higher than 34% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Fond du Lac cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
67.3 RPP
- Services
Services
91.1 RPP
- Overall
Overall
91.6 RPP
- Goods
Goods
93.8 RPP
What this shows Fond du Lac's gap from the national average is led by rents at 67.3. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Fond du Lac's cost comes from
Metros near Fond du Lac's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 94.3, rents 71.3). Fond du Lac is cheaper than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Fond du Lac's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
93.8
-6.2 below avg
Services
91.1
-8.9 below avg
Rents
67.3
-32.7 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$91,643
in Fond du Lac, WI purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$45,822
$75,000 nationally
$68,732
$125,000 nationally
$114,554
$150,000 nationally
$137,465
$200,000 nationally
$183,286
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 8.2 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 83.4 |
| 2009 | 86.0 |
| 2010 | 88.8 |
| 2011 | 87.7 |
| 2012 | 91.0 |
| 2013 | 91.1 |
| 2014 | 90.0 |
| 2015 | 89.6 |
| 2016 | 88.2 |
| 2017 | 87.1 |
| 2018 | 92.3 |
| 2019 | 93.0 |
| 2020 | 91.2 |
| 2021 | 92.2 |
| 2022 | 89.4 |
| 2023 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 91.6 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Fond du Lac, WI's index of 91.6.
Other WI Metros
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Fond du Lac, WI? ▼
Fond du Lac, WI has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 91.6, meaning it is 8.4% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.8, services at 91.1, and rents at 67.3. It ranks #255 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Fond du Lac, WI to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $91,643 in Fond du Lac, WI. Conversely, $100K earned in Fond du Lac, WI has the purchasing power of $109,119 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Fond du Lac, WI? ▼
Rents in Fond du Lac, WI are indexed at 67.3, which is 32.7% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Fond du Lac, WI getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Fond du Lac, WI's overall cost index changed by +8.2 points (from 83.4 to 91.6). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Fond du Lac, WI? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Birmingham, Michigan City-La Porte, Des Moines-West Des Moines. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Fond du Lac, WI's 91.6.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
