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

Which city costs less?

Michigan City, IN has a modeled overall cost index 3.1% higher than Wausau, WI.

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

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $453/month in Michigan City, IN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $155,441 in Michigan City, IN

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

Overall Cost

↑ 3.1%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$453

Extra cost

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.

Wausau, WI

Population:40K

Cost Index:

93.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$230K

Michigan City, IN

Population:32K

Cost Index:

96.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$220K

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Wausau, WI

The Badger State

40K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Michigan City, IN

The Hoosier State

32K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

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	Wausau, WI	Michigan City, IN	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,326/mo	$2,592/mo	↑ $266more	11.5%
Transportation	$1,320/mo	$1,578/mo	↑ $258more	19.6%
Healthcare	$715/mo	$592/mo	↓ $123less	17.2%
Groceries	$954/mo	$1,024/mo	↑ $70.18more	7.4%
Other	$1,680/mo	$1,651/mo	↓ $29.46less	1.8%
All Utilities	$505/mo	$517/mo	↑ $11.17more	2.2%

Housing

↑ 11.5%

Wausau, WI

$2,326

Michigan City, IN

$2,592

Difference

$266

Transportation

↑ 19.6%

Wausau, WI

$1,320

Michigan City, IN

$1,578

Difference

$258

Healthcare

↓ 17.2%

Wausau, WI

$715

Michigan City, IN

$592

Difference

$123

less

Groceries

↑ 7.4%

Wausau, WI

$954

Michigan City, IN

$1,024

Difference

$70.18

Other

↓ 1.8%

Wausau, WI

$1,680

Michigan City, IN

$1,651

Difference

$29.46

less

All Utilities

↑ 2.2%

Wausau, WI

$505

Michigan City, IN

$517

Difference

$11.17

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$800

To$830

↑ $30.00

1 Bed

From$895

To$900

↑ $5.00

2 Bed

From$1,155

To$1,090

↓ $65.00

3 Bed

From$1,520

To$1,370

↓ $150

Wausau, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$910/mo

Michigan City, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $900–$900/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 Wausau, WI

$7,953

Monthly in Michigan City, IN

$453

Difference

Home Values

Wausau

Michigan City

$230K

Median Value

$220K

↑ +7.7%

YoY Change

↑ +3.9%

↑ +45.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +47.8%

$221K - $240K

Price Range

$220K

Homes in Michigan City are 5% less expensive than Wausau

Calculate payment - Wausau Calculate payment - Michigan City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $4.0K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$334

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.7%

Rate difference

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

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

Additional Tax Information

Wausau, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

Michigan City, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 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

Wausau

Michigan City

42 Good

Air Quality

54 Moderate

72.1%

Good Air Days

35.8%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.2°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

18 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.2°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

18 days

Before moving from Wausau, WI to Michigan City, IN

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Michigan City, IN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Wausau, 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 Wausau to Michigan City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Michigan City, IN by cost, housing, population and region.

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

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

Michigan City, IN has a modeled overall cost index 3.1% higher than Wausau, 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 Wausau, WI, the model estimates $155,441 in Michigan City, IN. 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 Wausau, WI and Michigan City, IN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,155/month in Wausau, WI and $1,090/month in Michigan City, IN. 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 Indiana on TaxTakeHome.com