Beaver Dam, WI vs Wauwatosa, WI

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Beaver Dam is 23.2% cheaper than Wauwatosa. With a cost index of 77 vs 100, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Beaver Dam to Wauwatosa should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Beaver Dam is $942/month compared to $1,373/month in Wauwatosa — a 31% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Beaver Dam is more affordable at $189,800 median vs $307,600.

Median household income in Beaver Dam is $68,757 compared to $93,859 in Wauwatosa (-26.7%). While Wauwatosa is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Beaver Dam spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 17.6% in Wauwatosa.