Cost of Living in Appleton, WI
Appleton, WI — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
92.4
U.S. average = 100 · #234 of 387
Median wage
$49,910
all jobs · $3,406/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$960
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Appleton, WI to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Appleton, WI vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.4 | −7.6% |
| Housing | 70.8 | −29.2% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 90.6 | −9.4% |
| Other services | 99.4 | −0.6% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Appleton, WI
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $858 | $34,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $960 | $38,400/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,236 | $49,440/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,701 | $68,040/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,776 | $71,040/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Appleton, WI
Your take-home pay
$40,868
per year · effective tax rate 18.1%
$3,406Monthly
$1,703Twice a month
$1,572Every 2 weeks
$19.65Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,809
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,094
- Medicare (1.45%)$724
- Wisconsin income tax$1,415
- Take-home pay$40,868
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Highest-paying jobs in Appleton, WI
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Appleton, WI expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Appleton, WI metro area are 92.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 70.8%. It is the #234 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Appleton, WI?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,451 in Appleton, WI (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,910.
How much is rent in Appleton, WI?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Appleton, WI are $858 for a studio, $960 for one bedroom, $1,236 for two bedrooms and $1,701 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Appleton, WI
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $134,990
- Construction Manager — $122,710
- General and Operations Manager — $109,890
- Industrial Production Manager — $108,680
- Managers, All Other — $104,660
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $98,290
- Accountant and Auditor — $80,360
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $65,110
- Human Resources Specialist — $63,650
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $102,970
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Industrial Engineer — $95,380
- Mechanical Engineer — $85,260
Community and Social Service Occupations
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,600
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,840
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $58,340
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $37,800
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $34,500
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $86,680
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $49,330
- Nursing Assistant — $44,760
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,010
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $36,040
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,500
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,520
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,060
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,370
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,010
- Bartender — $23,330
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $44,380
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,700
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $35,110
Sales and Related Occupations
- Insurance Sales Agent — $77,250
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $63,840
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $62,840
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $50,430
- Retail Salesperson — $34,540
- Cashier — $31,610
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $69,340
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,780
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,940
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $47,210
- Customer Service Representative — $45,760
- Office Clerks, General — $45,640
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $40,300
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $98,970
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $91,750
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $83,010
- Electrician — $66,830
- Carpenter — $62,490
- Construction Laborer — $59,260
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $85,930
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $65,980
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $58,060
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $57,420
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,240
- Machinist — $60,350
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $59,550
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $58,920
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $53,560
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $53,390
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,930
- Food Batchmaker — $49,390
- Printing Press Operator — $46,090
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,670
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $45,660
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,340
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,730
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,540
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,610
- Light Truck Driver — $43,120
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,440
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,460
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,430
- Driver/Sales Worker — $27,590