Cost of Living in Green Bay, WI
Green Bay, WI — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Green Bay, WI to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Green Bay, WI?
With a price level of 93.1 (U.S. average = 100), Green Bay, WI is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 25% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 10% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Green Bay, WI vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.1 | −6.9% |
| Housing | 74.7 | −25.3% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 90.0 | −10.0% |
| Other services | 99.4 | −0.6% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Green Bay, WI
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $850 | $34,000/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $915 | $36,600/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,141 | $45,640/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,513 | $60,520/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,579 | $63,160/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Green Bay, WI
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Green Bay, WI | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,200 | $31,214 |
| $60,000 | $55,900 | $45,417 |
| $80,000 | $74,500 | $58,673 |
| $100,000 | $93,100 | $70,772 |
| $150,000 | $139,600 | $100,664 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Green Bay, WI's median wage of $49,940 takes home about $3,408 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $915, which is 27% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,493 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Green Bay, WI
- Federal income tax$3,813
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,096
- Medicare (1.45%)$724
- Wisconsin income tax$1,416
- Take-home pay$40,890
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Highest-paying jobs in Green Bay, WI
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $84,700 | $65,308 | $70,159 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $59,810 | $48,387 | $51,981 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,880 | $38,566 | $41,431 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,440 | $37,473 | $40,256 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,010 | $36,387 | $39,089 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $35,740 | $30,106 | $32,342 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $35,730 | $30,098 | $32,334 |
| Retail Salesperson | $34,090 | $28,852 | $30,995 |
| Cashier | $30,380 | $26,035 | $27,968 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,640 | $24,703 | $26,538 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Wisconsin cities
Half of Wisconsin’s 2,941,540 workers earn less than $50,270 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $37,700–$76,350 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Madison, WI stretches a paycheck furthest, while Kenosha, WI is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | $59,320 | 104.8 | $1,396 | 35% | $2,605 | $45,806 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $51,160 | 96.9 | $1,119 | 32% | $2,366 | $43,138 |
| Madison, WI | $58,080 | 97.3 | $1,377 | 35% | $2,546 | $48,385 |
| Green Bay, WI | $49,940 | 93.1 | $915 | 27% | $2,493 | $43,928 |
| Duluth, MN | $50,000 | 88.8 | $978 | 29% | $2,433 | $46,116 |
| Appleton, WI | $49,910 | 92.4 | $960 | 28% | $2,446 | $44,220 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $54,060 | 92.9 | $889 | 24% | $2,779 | $47,369 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $48,100 | 92.8 | $962 | 29% | $2,329 | $42,559 |
| La Crosse, WI | $48,260 | 91.8 | $866 | 26% | $2,435 | $43,168 |
| Racine, WI | $48,870 | 96.0 | $988 | 30% | $2,352 | $41,765 |
| Kenosha, WI | $48,310 | 101.1 | $1,092 | 33% | $2,212 | $39,214 |
| Janesville, WI | $48,390 | 93.7 | $955 | 29% | $2,354 | $42,382 |
| Wausau, WI | $48,790 | 92.7 | $889 | 27% | $2,446 | $43,191 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $51,890 | 94.0 | $888 | 25% | $2,643 | $45,069 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $50,340 | 91.6 | $946 | 28% | $2,487 | $44,951 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Green Bay, WI vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay, WI | 93.1 | $915 | $49,940 | 174,550 |
| Reading, PA | 97.1 | $1,237 | $49,440 | 174,670 |
| Naples, FL | 103.2 | $1,797 | $47,800 | 173,880 |
| Mobile, AL | 88.1 | $919 | $47,000 | 172,550 |
| Anchorage, AK | 105.4 | $1,190 | $60,200 | 177,050 |
| Visalia, CA | 99.8 | $1,123 | $45,130 | 171,140 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 100.2 | $1,467 | $46,490 | 170,820 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Green Bay, WI expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Green Bay, WI metro area are 93.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 74.7%. It is the #206 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Green Bay, WI?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,852 in Green Bay, WI (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,940.
Can you afford Green Bay, WI on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,940 median wage takes home about $3,408 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $915 would take 27% of that.
How much is rent in Green Bay, WI?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Green Bay, WI are $850 for a studio, $915 for one bedroom, $1,141 for two bedrooms and $1,513 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Green Bay, WI
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $84,700
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,730
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,640
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $34,090
- Cashier — $30,380
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Customer Service Representative — $46,880
- Office Clerks, General — $45,440
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,810
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,010