Sun Prairie, WI vs Waukesha, WI

Waukesha is moderately more affordable than Sun Prairie, with a 11% lower cost of living index. Sun Prairie scores 103 compared to 93 for Waukesha, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Sun Prairie can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Sun Prairie is $1,374/month compared to $1,183/month in Waukesha — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waukesha is more affordable at $286,600 median vs $339,800.

Median household income in Sun Prairie is $90,521 compared to $81,651 in Waukesha (+10.9%). The higher salaries in Sun Prairie partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Sun Prairie spend roughly 18.2% of their income on rent, more than the 17.4% in Waukesha.