Michigan City, IN vs Wausau, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Wausau, WI has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% lower than Michigan City, IN.

Michigan City, IN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,090 / month
Wausau, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,155 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Michigan City, IN and Wausau, WI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Michigan City, IN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $428/month in Wausau, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,869 in Wausau, WI

Regional cost estimates: Michigan City, IN uses Chicago, IL. Wausau, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 3.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$428

Savings

Annual Impact

$5.1K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Michigan City, IN

Population:32K

Cost Index:

96.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$220K

Wausau, WI

Population:40K

Cost Index:

93.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$230K

Planning the move to Wausau?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Michigan City, IN

The Hoosier State

32K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 32K residents.

Wausau, WI

The Badger State

40K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 40K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Michigan City, IN vs Wausau, WI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Michigan City, IN	Wausau, WI	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,444/mo	$2,193/mo	↓ $251less	10.3%
Transportation	$1,488/mo	$1,245/mo	↓ $243less	16.4%
Healthcare	$558/mo	$674/mo	↑ $116more	20.8%
Groceries	$966/mo	$900/mo	↓ $66.18less	6.9%
Other	$1,557/mo	$1,584/mo	↑ $27.78more	1.8%
All Utilities	$487/mo	$477/mo	↓ $10.54less	2.2%

Housing

↓ 10.3%

Michigan City, IN

$2,444

Wausau, WI

$2,193

Difference

$251

less

Transportation

↓ 16.4%

Michigan City, IN

$1,488

Wausau, WI

$1,245

Difference

$243

less

Healthcare

↑ 20.8%

Michigan City, IN

$558

Wausau, WI

$674

Difference

$116

Groceries

↓ 6.9%

Michigan City, IN

$966

Wausau, WI

$900

Difference

$66.18

less

Other

↑ 1.8%

Michigan City, IN

$1,557

Wausau, WI

$1,584

Difference

$27.78

All Utilities

↓ 2.2%

Michigan City, IN

$487

Wausau, WI

$477

Difference

$10.54

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$830

To$800

↓ $30.00

1 Bed

From$900

To$895

↓ $5.00

2 Bed

From$1,090

To$1,155

↑ $65.00

3 Bed

From$1,370

To$1,520

↑ $150

Michigan City, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $900–$900/mo

Wausau, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$910/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Michigan City, IN

$7,072

Monthly in Wausau, WI

$428

Difference

Home Values

Michigan City

Wausau

$220K

Median Value

$230K

↑ +3.9%

YoY Change

↑ +7.7%

↑ +47.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +45.6%

$220K

Price Range

$221K - $240K

Homes in Wausau are 5% more expensive than Michigan City

Calculate payment - Michigan City Calculate payment - Wausau

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $4.0K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$334

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.7%

Rate difference

Michigan City, IN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Indiana State Tax

Effective: 3.2%

$4.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.9%

$41.9K

Take-Home Pay

$9,012/month

$108.1K

Wausau, WI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Wisconsin State Tax

Effective: 5.9%

$8.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.6%

$45.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,678/month

$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Michigan City, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

Wausau, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Michigan City

Wausau

54 Moderate

Air Quality

42 Good

35.8%

Good Air Days

72.1%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Michigan City, IN to Wausau, WI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Wausau, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Michigan City, IN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Michigan City to Wausau moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Wausau, WI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Michigan City, IN vs Wausau, WI

How do the cost estimates for Michigan City, IN and Wausau, WI compare?

Wausau, WI has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% lower than Michigan City, IN. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Michigan City, IN, the model estimates $144,869 in Wausau, WI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Michigan City, IN and Wausau, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,090/month in Michigan City, IN and $1,155/month in Wausau, WI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Indiana and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com