Cost of Living in
Kenosha, WI

The Kenosha Cost of Living Deception: A 2026 Financial Autopsy

Let's be blunt: the Cost of Living Index of 93.1 is a statistical lie designed to get you to move here. It suggests you’re saving 6.9% compared to the national average, but that number evaporates the moment you factor in the tax structure and the specific "Wisconsin lifestyle tax" on insurance and utilities. The median household income sits at $68,885, which translates to roughly $57,400 for a dual-income household or a single earner pushing $37,886. If you are making $37,886, you are not "comfortable"; you are surviving paycheck to paycheck, barely treading water. To actually live here without the constant anxiety of a surprise $400 expense wrecking your month, a single person needs to clear $55,000 minimum. If you are a family trying to thrive, not just exist, you need to be pulling in $95,000. Anything less, and you are subsidizing your lifestyle with debt.

The Big Items

Housing: The Rent vs. Buy Trap
The rental market in Kenosha is deceptively sticky. A one-bedroom unit averages $1,071, while a two-bedroom jumps to $1,401. The "buy" side is currently a black hole—the median home price data is effectively null for 2026 because inventory is artificially choked. If you can find a home, expect to pay a premium over the regional average due to the Chicago commuter bleed. The trap here isn't just the mortgage rate; it's the property tax. While you might save on the sticker price compared to Chicago suburbs, you are trading high upfront cost for a long-term nickel-and-dime bleed. The market heat comes from low inventory, meaning you aren't negotiating; you are overpaying or leaving.

Taxes: The Wisconsin Bite
Wisconsin is not a low-tax haven. You are getting hit from three angles. First, the state income tax is progressive, and if you are making that $55,000 "comfortable" threshold, you are already in the 5.3% bracket. Second, the sales tax is a constant drag on every transaction. Kenosha County sits at 5.5%, and when you add the state portion, you are looking at nearly 6% every time you buy a stick of gum. Third, and most devastating, is property tax. Wisconsin consistently ranks in the top five for highest property taxes in the nation. Don't look at the mortgage payment; look at the annual tax bill. In Kenosha, you can easily expect to pay 1.5% to 2% of the home's value annually in property taxes alone. On a $300,000 home, that is an extra $4,500 a year—money that builds zero equity and vanishes into local government coffers.

Groceries & Gas: The Local Variance
Grocery costs in Kenosha are roughly 3% above the national average, which is deceptive because it masks the volatility of dairy and meat prices in the Midwest. You will feel the pinch on a $150 weekly grocery run that should cost $135. Gas is the equalizer, sitting slightly below the national average at roughly $3.30 per gallon. However, this "savings" is a mirage if you commute. The real cost is the Wisconsin winter. You will burn through a set of winter tires ($600+ every two years) and higher fuel consumption due to idling to defrost windshields. You aren't saving on gas; you are just subsidizing the vehicle maintenance required to survive the season.

Hidden 'Gotcha' Costs

The "Gotcha" costs in Kenosha are where the budget goes to die. First, there is the $1,400 average annual cost for car insurance. Wisconsin rates are driven up by weather-related accidents and high uninsured motorist rates. You are legally required to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which adds roughly $120 a year to your premium, but protects you from the 10.7% of drivers on the road here who are uninsured.

Then there are the utilities. The electric rate of 17.18 cents/kWh is the baseline. The "gotcha" is the $25 monthly "franchise fee" and the separate delivery charges that often exceed the cost of the actual power used. In the dead of winter, a $280 heating bill is standard, not an anomaly. If you buy a home, you are often forced into an HOA. While some are reasonable, many in the newer developments are $150 - $250 a month for the privilege of having your grass height regulated. Finally, parking. If you live or work downtown, parking tickets are a revenue stream for the city. A missed meter is $20; parking in a private lot for a day out is $8 - $12. It adds up fast.

Lifestyle Inflation

Lifestyle inflation hits hard because Kenosha offers enough amenities to tempt you, but not enough competition to keep prices low. A "night out" is a budget killer. A modest dinner for two at a mid-tier restaurant, plus two drinks and a tip, will run you $100 easily. A craft beer at a local brewery is $7 - $9. If you want to stay fit, a standard gym membership (Planet Fitness, Anytime) is $25 - $40 a month, but if you want a boutique CrossFit or yoga studio, you are looking at $120 - $160 monthly.

Coffee is the daily bleed. A standard latte at a local shop is $5.50. If you buy one every workday, that’s $110 a month, or $1,320 a year—roughly 3.5% of that baseline $37,886 income. Streaming services, Amazon Prime, and the requisite Netflix stack up to another $60 - $80 a month. These aren't luxuries; they are the modern baseline, and in Kenosha, they eat a disproportionately large chunk of the median income.

Salary Scenarios

Frugal Scenario Analysis:
At $42,000 for a single person, you are living in a walk-up apartment, driving a paid-off older car, and eating mostly home-cooked meals. You are likely utilizing the $1,071 rental market strictly. There is zero room for error. A single $1,000 car repair sets you back a month. For a family on $65,000, this is a tightrope walk. You are likely in a older 2-bedroom rental or a starter home with a high mortgage-to-income ratio. You are shopping at Aldi and Walmart exclusively. You are not saving for retirement beyond a modest 401k match.

Moderate Scenario Analysis:
This is the "Kenosha Dream" bracket. $55,000 single income allows for a $1,400 rental, a reliable car payment, and dining out once a week. You can afford the $25 gym and the $12 movie ticket. However, you are still not aggressively saving. This income level allows you to participate in society without anxiety, but buying a median-priced home (assuming $300k) is still a stretch without a significant down payment. A family at $85,000 is doing the math on a $2,000+ mortgage payment plus taxes and is likely feeling the pinch of childcare costs, which can run $1,000+ per month per child.

Comfortable Scenario Analysis:
At $75,000 single income, you are insulated. You can max out a Roth IRA, afford a $1,800 mortgage payment on a decent home, and absorb the $4,500 annual property tax bill without panic. You drive a new car with full coverage insurance. A family earning $115,000 lives well here. They can afford private school tuition if they choose, vacations, and a healthy emergency fund. They are insulated from the "gotcha" costs because a $200 parking ticket or a $500 insurance hike is an annoyance, not a crisis. This is the only bracket where the 93.1 index actually feels like a bargain.