Waupaca, WI vs Frankenmuth, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Frankenmuth, MI has a modeled overall cost index 6.4% lower than Waupaca, WI.

Waupaca, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Frankenmuth, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$990 / 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 Waupaca, WI and Frankenmuth, MI 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

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Estimated savings: $449/month in Frankenmuth, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,616 in Frankenmuth, MI

Regional cost estimates: Waupaca, WI uses Madison, WI. Frankenmuth, MI uses Detroit, MI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 6.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$449
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.4K
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.

Waupaca, WI

Population:6K
Cost Index:
86.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$308K

Frankenmuth, MI

Population:5K
Cost Index:
81.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$303K

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Waupaca, WI

The Badger State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Frankenmuth, MI

The Great Lakes State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Waupaca, WI vs Frankenmuth, MI

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.

Housing
↓ 36.8%
Waupaca, WI
$2,300
Frankenmuth, MI
$1,454
Difference
$846
less
Transportation
↑ 24.7%
Waupaca, WI
$1,306
Frankenmuth, MI
$1,628
Difference
$323
more
Healthcare
↓ 17.1%
Waupaca, WI
$734
Frankenmuth, MI
$608
Difference
$125
less
All Utilities
↑ 15.9%
Waupaca, WI
$519
Frankenmuth, MI
$601
Difference
$82.55
more
Other
↑ 4.4%
Waupaca, WI
$1,662
Frankenmuth, MI
$1,735
Difference
$72.88
more
Groceries
↑ 4.6%
Waupaca, WI
$979
Frankenmuth, MI
$1,024
Difference
$44.89
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$760
To$680
↓ $80.00
1 Bed
From$780
To$760
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$970
To$990
↑ $20.00
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,280
→ $0
Waupaca, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Frankenmuth, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/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 Waupaca, WI
$7,051
Monthly in Frankenmuth, MI
$449
Difference

Home Values

Waupaca
Frankenmuth
$308K
Median Value
$303K
↑ +6.1%
YoY Change
↑ +4.5%
↑ +47.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +34.3%

Homes in Frankenmuth are 2% less expensive than Waupaca

Calculate payment - WaupacaCalculate payment - Frankenmuth

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.5K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$206
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.6%
Rate difference

Waupaca, 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

Frankenmuth, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Waupaca, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Frankenmuth, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 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

Waupaca
Frankenmuth
42 Good
Air Quality
55 Moderate
72.1%
Good Air Days
32.8%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Waupaca, WI to Frankenmuth, MI

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Frankenmuth, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Waupaca, WI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Waupaca to Frankenmuth moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Waupaca, WI vs Frankenmuth, MI

How do the cost estimates for Waupaca, WI and Frankenmuth, MI compare?

Frankenmuth, MI has a modeled overall cost index 6.4% lower than Waupaca, 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 Waupaca, WI, the model estimates $144,616 in Frankenmuth, MI. 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 Waupaca, WI and Frankenmuth, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Waupaca, WI and $990/month in Frankenmuth, MI. 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 Wisconsin and Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com

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