Cottage Grove, WI vs Delavan Lake, WI

The cost of living difference between Cottage Grove, WI and Delavan Lake, WI is dramatic. Delavan Lake is 34.3% cheaper than Cottage Grove, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Cottage Grove has a cost index of 112 while Delavan Lake sits at 83, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,500/month compared to $875/month in Delavan Lake — a 71% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Delavan Lake is more affordable at $292,100 median vs $401,900.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $132,717 compared to $71,042 in Delavan Lake (+86.8%). While Cottage Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cottage Grove spend roughly 13.6% of their income on rent, less than the 14.8% in Delavan Lake.