Cottage Grove, WI vs South Milwaukee, WI

The cost of living difference between Cottage Grove, WI and South Milwaukee, WI is dramatic. South Milwaukee is 36.6% 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 South Milwaukee sits at 82, 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 $1,014/month in South Milwaukee — a 48% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: South Milwaukee is more affordable at $216,400 median vs $401,900.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $132,717 compared to $70,146 in South Milwaukee (+89.2%). 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 17.3% in South Milwaukee.