Cost of Living in Kenosha, WI: Housing, Rent and Everyday Costs
Kenosha's overall cost of living sits slightly below the national average, but housing figures vary by source. This guide explains what each number measures so you can compare it fairly.
The cost of living in Kenosha, WI is about 3% below the national average, so everyday spending runs slightly lower than the U.S. norm [1]. That gap is modest, so it matters most when you add up the bigger costs, starting with housing. For a closer look, read Aurora, CO vs Denver: Which Costs Less to Live In?
Rent shows the clearer difference. The average rent in Kenosha is $1,321 a month, about 21% below the national average rent of $1,667 a month [2]. If you rent, that lower figure leaves more room in your monthly budget for groceries, transportation and savings.
This article covers housing, food, medical and childcare costs, and wages, and explains what each figure measures. The numbers come from different publishers and time periods, so compare them with care before judging Kenosha against another city.
What changes the cost of living in Kenosha?
Kenosha's overall costs run a little below the national average, but housing and income decide how far your budget goes. The table lists five measures from different sources, and each one answers a different question.
What the overall index does and does not show
It is a comparison of cost levels, not a price, so it tells you how the area stacks up against the country but not what any single bill will be.
Housing: the biggest monthly line
Housing figures describe the homes you would buy or the apartments you would rent.
Rent is paid every month, so even a modest difference in rent adds up over a year. If you are planning a move, these two numbers give you the starting point for a monthly housing budget.
Income: what workers earn and what a household needs
That figure shows what workers in the area earn on average, not what any one household takes home.
Putting the figures together
Put the housing figures next to the living wage and you can see how local prices meet local pay. A household earning near the average salary faces a different budget than one earning only the living wage. Compare these figures with your own income before you decide.
How much do homes and rent cost in Kenosha?
The median home value in Kenosha is reported at $229,867 by one source and $225,200 by another. [3][1] The two figures are close, so either one gives you a reasonable sense of what a typical home costs.
For context, the national average home value is $359,870, so Kenosha's typical home sits well below that figure. [3] If you are moving from a higher-priced market, that gap can change how much house your budget buys.
Median values describe the middle of the market, not the price of the home you will actually find. A few large or new homes can push a neighborhood's listings above the median, while older homes and smaller units often sit below it. Use the median as a starting point and then look at homes in the specific area you want.
Rent by bedroom count
For renters, the most useful comparison is a unit with the same number of bedrooms. A one-bedroom apartment in the City Centre area is listed at $1,500.00 a month. [4] That is one neighborhood's example, so use it to judge a single-person budget rather than the rent across the whole city.
When you compare two-bedroom units, match three things: the bedroom count, the neighborhood, and whether utilities are included. A two-bedroom in one part of town can cost noticeably different from a two-bedroom a few miles away. Apartments.com publishes Kenosha rent trends by neighborhood, which lets you compare areas side by side. [2]
Write down the rent for three or four similar units from different neighborhoods. A simple list of monthly rent, size and location shows you which area fits your budget.
What do food, medical and childcare costs add up to?
Medical and child food costs are not part of that hourly figure, so you need to add them yourself.
A monthly spending reference
Wise lists the average monthly cost of living for a single person at $3,759 [4]. Treat it as a rough reference point for everyday spending, not a complete budget. Build your own line-by-line plan for rent, car payments, utilities and food before you rely on it.
Medical and child food costs
The living wage calculation lists medical costs and children's food as separate line items rather than inside the $23.35 hourly figure [5]. If you have a child or an ongoing medical expense, you can read those costs from the calculation's table and add them to your budget [5].
How the minimum wage compares
Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour [5]. Closing that gap usually takes a large raise, a better-paid job, or a second income in the household.
Using these numbers
A gap in either comparison shows how much you would need to earn more, spend less, or share costs with another adult.
Which cost of living figures should I trust?
What does the overall cost of living figure measure?
An overall cost of living figure compares a place with a national baseline. It shows direction, not what you will pay each month. Kenosha's overall cost of living is about 3% below the national average [1]. A basket of everyday goods and services costs slightly less here than across the country, but your own rent and grocery bill can still land above or below that average. To go further, see Cost of Living in Aurora, CO: What Households Pay in 2026.
What does a median tell me?
A median is the middle value in a list: half the values are higher and half are lower. It describes the typical home, and a few unusually expensive or cheap sales do not pull it far. Take five home sales of $150,000, $200,000, $225,000, $300,000 and $900,000. The median is $225,000, while the average is $355,000. The median is the better guide to what a buyer in the middle of the market pays.
Why does a living wage look so high?
A living wage is an estimate of what a household needs to cover basic costs. It is not what an average household actually spends. For Kenosha County, the living wage for one adult is $23.35 an hour [5]. Compare that figure with the pay you would earn, not with a typical paycheck. A job paying $20 an hour, for example, would fall short of the estimate for a single adult.
How do I compare Kenosha with another city?
Check the year and scope of each figure before you put two cities side by side. A county-level living wage, a city median home price and a metro-area rent average measure different things, even when they share a place name. Build a simple table with columns for the figure, the source, the period and the area it covers. A mismatch will show up in that table before you draw a conclusion.
Treat every figure as a starting point, not a forecast. Your household size, income and housing choices will change how these numbers apply to you.
Is Kenosha affordable for your budget?
Kenosha costs less than the national average on both overall living costs and rent [2][1]. That gap matters only if it fits your own income, so start there.
Begin by setting your take-home pay against the living wage for one adult in Kenosha County [5]. If your pay falls below that level, rent will take a bigger share of your budget than the averages suggest.
Next, price the specific unit you want. Add its rent, utilities and food to your monthly costs, then compare the total with what you bring home. A place that looks affordable on average can still strain a single-income household.
Pick two or three listings in the neighborhoods you are considering and total each one's monthly cost. That gives you a realistic answer to whether Kenosha fits your budget.