Cost of Living in
Green Bay, WI

The Real Price Tag: Green Bay, WI (2026)

Let's cut through the brochure talk. If you are looking at Green Bay based on a generic "Cost of Living Index" of 93.1, you are looking at a lie of omission. That number suggests you can live here for roughly 93% of the national average, but it fails to account for the structural tax differences and the specific "Wisconsin Tax Burden" that hits your wallet the moment you cross the state line. The median household income sits at $66,950, which implies a single earner bringing home roughly $36,822. While the raw math of a $841 one-bedroom rent looks tempting against a national backdrop of skyrocketing housing costs, do not mistake "below average" for "affordable." To live comfortably here—to not feel like you are walking a tightrope with zero savings—you need to be making significantly more than that median. The "comfort" level in Green Bay isn't about surviving the winter; it’s about having the liquidity to handle the nickel-and-dime reality of living in a high-tax, high-insurance state where the "sticker shock" comes from the annual bills, not the weekly grocery run.

The Big Items

The primary driver of cost in Green Bay is the housing market, which is currently in a state of aggressive transition. The days of Green Bay being a cheap haven are fading. The rent for a one-bedroom unit is averaging $841, and a two-bedroom is $1055. On paper, this is a win. However, the "rent vs. buy" equation is skewed heavily by the hidden costs of homeownership in Brown County. If you are looking to buy, you won't find a median home price listed easily because the market is fragmented, but the entry-level price for a decent starter home is creeping toward $250,000. The trap here isn't the mortgage payment itself; it’s the property taxes. In Wisconsin, you are paying for the privilege of owning land every single year, regardless of your mortgage status. This creates a market heat where renting feels like the only logical move for a single earner, but the rental inventory is thin, giving landlords the leverage to push rents up toward that $1,055 ceiling faster than the data suggests.

Taxes are the biggest bleed factor in this budget, and they are non-negotiable. Wisconsin relies heavily on a progressive income tax structure. For a single earner making around $40,000, you are looking at a marginal state tax rate of roughly 4.4%, which slices off nearly $1,760 before you even see your paycheck. Compare that to a state like neighboring Minnesota (which hits higher earners harder) or Illinois, and Wisconsin sits in the middle, but it is significantly higher than no-tax states. The real gut punch, however, is property tax. If you buy that $250,000 home, you can expect to pay between 1.5% and 2.0% in annual property taxes. That is $3,750 to $5,000 a year—roughly $312 to $416 a month—that you get zero return on until you sell, assuming the market holds. You don't own the land; you are leasing it from the county, and the rent goes up every year.

Don't think you can escape the tax man at the pump or the grocery store. While the gas tax in Wisconsin isn't the highest in the nation (currently around $0.32 per gallon state tax), the total at the pump fluctuates wildly based on crude prices, often landing between $3.20 and $3.80 per gallon. Groceries, however, are where the local variance bites. Green Bay is a mid-sized hub, but it lacks the hyper-competitive discount grocery landscape of Chicago or Minneapolis. You will pay a premium at the local Pick 'n Save compared to the national average baseline, often seeing a 10-15% markup on staples like dairy and meat compared to the Midwest average. The "cheap" Wisconsin lifestyle relies heavily on bulk buying at warehouse clubs, but if you are a single renter without a deep freezer, you are paying the retail price, which eats into that "below average" COL index immediately.

Hidden 'Gotcha' Costs

You need to budget for the disasters that Wisconsin weather and infrastructure dish out. First, let's talk about the "Zombie Debt" of homeownership: HOAs. If you buy a condo or a home in a development built after 1990, you will likely be hit with a Homeowners Association fee. These aren't just for landscaping; they cover the roof and siding insurance master policy. In Green Bay, these fees are currently averaging $250 to $450 per month. That is a permanent bill attached to your mortgage that effectively raises your "housing" cost by 30%. If you are renting an apartment, you are safe, but if you buy a townhome, you are suddenly paying a mortgage plus a monthly fee that rivals a car payment.

Then there is the insurance landscape. Your standard renters or homeowners insurance is baseline. In Green Bay, you need to look at specific riders. While the Fox River doesn't flood the city center often, the outlying areas and heavy spring thaws mean flood insurance is often mandatory for mortgages in zones that aren't immediately obvious on a map ($800 - $2,000/year). Furthermore, because of the severe hail storms that rip through Northeast Wisconsin in the summer, the "hail deductible" is a reality check. Many policies now carry separate $1,000 or $2,500 deductibles for wind/hail damage. If a storm shreds your roof, you aren't paying a $500 deductible; you are paying $2,500 out of pocket before the insurer lifts a finger. There are no toll roads in Green Bay itself (saving you the Chicago toll nightmare), but the city aggressively issues parking tickets, and if you live in the downtown district, monthly parking can run you $50 - $100 a month if your apartment doesn't include a spot.

Lifestyle Inflation

The "Green Bay Discount" evaporates quickly when you try to have a social life. The cost of entertainment is heavily inflated by the presence of the Green Bay Packers. The "Lambeau Effect" raises the baseline price for everything within a five-mile radius of the stadium, and that bleed extends to the rest of the city's hospitality sector. A night out isn't cheap. Grabbing a beer and a burger at a decent local spot like St. Brendan's or The Black Sheep will run you roughly $25 to $35 per person before tip. If you want a cocktail, expect to pay $12 to $15 for a basic mixed drink.

Coffee is another silent budget killer. While national chains remain consistent, the local independent coffee shops—the lifeblood of the downtown area—charge a premium. A standard latte is going to cost you $5.50 to $6.50. If you buy one every workday, that is roughly $130 a month, or $1,560 a year, for caffeine. Gym memberships are relatively reasonable if you stick to big box gyms like the YMCA or Anytime Fitness, hovering around $40 to $55 a month, but boutique fitness classes (spin, pilates) will peg you at $120 to $160 a month. The lifestyle inflation in Green Bay is deceptive; it looks cheap until you realize that the "average" night out costs as much as it does in a city with double the average income.

Salary Scenarios

The following table breaks down the raw income needed to sustain specific lifestyles in Green Bay, accounting for the tax bleed and the hidden costs of housing and insurance. These figures represent the gross single income required to maintain these standards without living paycheck to paycheck.

Frugal Analysis ($42,000 Single / $65,000 Family):
This is survival mode, not thriving. At $42,000, your monthly take-home is roughly $2,800 after taxes and basic deductions. You are living in a one-bedroom apartment or a very modest rental unit. You are strictly budgeting $900 for rent, $400 for groceries (utilizing Aldi and sales), and $250 for a high-deductible car insurance policy. There is almost no room for error. A single $1,000 emergency (medical deductible, car repair) wipes out months of savings. You are likely skipping the gym and brewing coffee at home. For a family on $65,000, this is tight; you are likely relying on public schools and strictly controlling utility usage to keep the electric bill under $150 a month.

Moderate Analysis ($60,000 Single / $95,000 Family):
This is the "Green Bay Average" reality. At $60,000, you are clearing roughly $3,800 monthly. You can afford the $1,055 two-bedroom rental or a modest starter home with a $1,800 total monthly housing cost (mortgage + taxes + HOA). You are driving a reliable used car with full coverage. You can afford a gym membership and perhaps a $50 weekly budget for a night out. However, you are not maxing out your 401(k). You are likely contributing 3-5% to retirement. For a family on $95,000, this is the sweet spot where you can cover childcare costs (which are astronomical in Wisconsin) and still have a grocery budget that includes brand names, but you are still one major income disruption away from financial stress.

Comfortable Analysis ($85,000 Single / $135,000 Family):
This is where you actually feel "below average" on the COL index. At $85,000, you are taking home roughly $5,200 monthly. You can afford to buy a decent home in a good school district, putting your housing costs near $2,500 a month while still saving. You can absorb the $250 HOA fee without blinking. You likely own two reliable cars and have a robust emergency fund. You can pay for the boutique gym, the $6.50 lattes, and a weekend getaway to Door County without checking your bank balance. For a family on $135,000, you are insulated from the tax hikes and insurance premiums; you are actually building wealth, maxing out retirement accounts, and utilizing the local private school options if desired. This is the income level where the "low cost of living" narrative actually holds water.