Overall
101.1
+1.1 above avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Kenosha, WI
Cost-of-living indicators for Kenosha, WI, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 101.1
- Overall RPP
- #66
- of 387 metros
- 95.8
- Rents RPP
- $99K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Kenosha is more expensive than 83% of U.S. metros — an overall cost index of 101.1, 1.1% above the national average, led by services at 85.9.
- 101.1
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #66
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- top 17%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 95.8
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $98,894 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $101,118.
What the Numbers Mean for Kenosha
Kenosha ranks #66 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 101.1, Kenosha, WI is 1.1% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Kenosha's most and least expensive categories — goods at 106.2 versus services at 85.9 — 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 $98,894 inside Kenosha, while a household needs roughly $101,118 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 95.8 — 4.2% 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, Kenosha's overall index has fallen by 2.6 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 106.2 and services at 85.9, meaning everyday spending in Kenosha 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.
Kenosha vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
101 Top 17% higher than 83% 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
Kenosha cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
95.8 RPP
- Services
Services
85.9 RPP
- Overall
Overall
101.1 RPP
- Goods
Goods
106.2 RPP
What this shows Kenosha's gap from the national average is led by services at 85.9. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Kenosha's cost comes from
Metros near Kenosha'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 96.3, rents 119.8). Kenosha is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Kenosha'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
106.2
+6.2 above avg
Services
85.9
-14.1 below avg
Rents
95.8
-4.2 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$101,118
in Kenosha, WI purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$50,559
$75,000 nationally
$75,839
$125,000 nationally
$126,398
$150,000 nationally
$151,677
$200,000 nationally
$202,236
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 2.6 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.7 |
| 2009 | 102.9 |
| 2010 | 100.1 |
| 2011 | 103.1 |
| 2012 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 100.1 |
| 2014 | 101.3 |
| 2015 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 100.2 |
| 2017 | 102.5 |
| 2018 | 100.9 |
| 2019 | 101.9 |
| 2020 | 99.4 |
| 2021 | 101.5 |
| 2022 | 102.5 |
| 2023 | 100.5 |
| 2024 | 101.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Kenosha, WI's index of 101.1.
Other WI Metros
What this means for Kenosha
How to read Kenosha's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $98,894 in Kenosha. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 95.8 (4.2% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $79,412; adjusted for Kenosha's price level that is about $78,534 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Kenosha head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
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 Kenosha, WI? ▼
Kenosha, WI has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 101.1, meaning it is 1.1% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 106.2, services at 85.9, and rents at 95.8. It ranks #66 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Kenosha, WI to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $101,118 in Kenosha, WI. Conversely, $100K earned in Kenosha, WI has the purchasing power of $98,894 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Kenosha, WI? ▼
Rents in Kenosha, WI are indexed at 95.8, which is 4.2% below the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Kenosha, WI getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Kenosha, WI's overall cost index changed by -2.6 points (from 103.7 to 101.1). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Kenosha, WI? ▼
The most expensive category in Kenosha, WI is goods at 106.2, which is 6.2% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 85.9, 14.1% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Kenosha, WI? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Fort Collins-Loveland, Chico, Reno. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Kenosha, WI's 101.1.
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
