Racine, WI vs Waukesha, WI

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Racine is 18% cheaper than Waukesha. With a cost index of 76 vs 93, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Racine to Waukesha should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Racine is $983/month compared to $1,183/month in Waukesha — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Racine is more affordable at $158,100 median vs $286,600.

Median household income in Racine is $55,705 compared to $81,651 in Waukesha (-31.8%). While Waukesha is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Racine spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, more than the 17.4% in Waukesha.