Germantown, WI vs Wauwatosa, WI

Germantown, WI and Wauwatosa, WI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.1% difference in their overall index. Germantown scores 102 while Wauwatosa scores 100 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Germantown is $1,310/month compared to $1,373/month in Wauwatosa — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Germantown has cheaper rent, Wauwatosa actually has lower median home values ($307,600 vs $356,700).

Median household income in Germantown is $104,337 compared to $93,859 in Wauwatosa (+11.2%). While Germantown is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Germantown spend roughly 15.1% of their income on rent, less than the 17.6% in Wauwatosa.