Cost of Living in Bay City, WI

With a cost of living index of 76, Bay City, WI is a very affordable place to live. Living here is 24% cheaper than the national average and 3% below the Wisconsin state average of 79. Bay City is a small community of 358 residents.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Bay City's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $990 (25% below the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $118,400 (61% below the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 2x the median household income — well within traditional affordability guidelines.

The median household income in Bay City is $60,625, which is 19% lower than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 20% of household income on rent. This is a comfortable ratio, well below the 30% threshold that financial experts recommend as a maximum. Lower incomes here are balanced by the significantly lower cost of living, stretching each dollar further.

Everyday prices in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area) metro area tend to run above the national average. Out of 6 common grocery and utility items tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5 are priced higher than the US average. These real-world prices — from groceries to electricity — add up and should be factored into any cost of living comparison.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.