Portage, WI vs Little Chute, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Little Chute, WI has a modeled overall cost index 12.3% lower than Portage, WI.

Portage, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,230 / month
Little Chute, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,240 / 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

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Portage, WI and Little Chute, 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 Portage, WI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $815/month in Little Chute, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $140,217 in Little Chute, WI

Regional cost estimates: Portage, WI uses Madison, WI. Little Chute, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 12.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$815

Savings

Annual Impact

$9.8K

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.

Portage, WI

Population:10K

Cost Index:

96.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$278K

Little Chute, WI

Population:12K

Cost Index:

84.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$288K

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Portage, WI

The Badger State

10K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Little Chute, WI

The Badger State

12K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 12K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Portage, WI vs Little Chute, 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	Portage, WI	Little Chute, WI	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,338/mo	$1,651/mo	↓ $687less	29.4%
Other	$1,689/mo	$1,533/mo	↓ $156less	9.2%
Transportation	$1,327/mo	$1,342/mo	↑ $15.34more	1.2%
Groceries	$942/mo	$947/mo	↑ $5.43more	0.6%
Healthcare	$706/mo	$710/mo	↑ $4.07more	0.6%
All Utilities	$499/mo	$502/mo	↑ $2.88more	0.6%

Housing

↓ 29.4%

Portage, WI

$2,338

Little Chute, WI

$1,651

Difference

$687

less

Other

↓ 9.2%

Portage, WI

$1,689

Little Chute, WI

$1,533

Difference

$156

less

Transportation

↑ 1.2%

Portage, WI

$1,327

Little Chute, WI

$1,342

Difference

$15.34

Groceries

↑ 0.6%

Portage, WI

$942

Little Chute, WI

$947

Difference

$5.43

Healthcare

↑ 0.6%

Portage, WI

$706

Little Chute, WI

$710

Difference

$4.07

All Utilities

↑ 0.6%

Portage, WI

$499

Little Chute, WI

$502

Difference

$2.88

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$850

To$860

↑ $10.00

1 Bed

From$940

To$960

↑ $20.00

2 Bed

From$1,230

To$1,240

↑ $10.00

3 Bed

From$1,690

To$1,710

↑ $20.00

Portage, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $940–$940/mo

Little Chute, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $960–$960/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 Portage, WI

$6,685

Monthly in Little Chute, WI

$815

Difference

Home Values

Portage

Little Chute

$278K

Median Value

$288K

↑ +4.9%

YoY Change

↑ +7%

↑ +46.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +56.4%

Homes in Little Chute are 4% more expensive than Portage

Calculate payment - Portage Calculate payment - Little Chute

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Portage, 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

Little Chute, 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

Portage, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

Little Chute, 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

Portage

Little Chute

42 Good

Air Quality

43 Good

72.1%

Good Air Days

68.6%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

13 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

13 days

Before moving from Portage, WI to Little Chute, WI

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Little Chute, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Portage, WI. 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 Portage to Little Chute moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Portage, WI vs Little Chute, WI

How do the cost estimates for Portage, WI and Little Chute, WI compare?

Little Chute, WI has a modeled overall cost index 12.3% lower than Portage, WI. 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 Portage, WI, the model estimates $140,217 in Little Chute, 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 Portage, WI and Little Chute, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,230/month in Portage, WI and $1,240/month in Little Chute, 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.