Is $28,000 a good salary in Wisconsin?

$28,000 in Wisconsin provides a monthly take-home of approximately $1,958 after taxes. Across major Wisconsin cities, this salary is rated very tight, with an average monthly surplus of $-220.

What is the cost of living on $28,000 in Wisconsin?

The average monthly living cost across major Wisconsin cities is approximately $2,178 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $28,000 take-home pay of $1,958/month, you would have roughly $-220/month remaining.

Living in Wisconsin · 2026

Is $28,000 enough to live in Wisconsin?

Single adult · WI · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very tight

Monthly take-home

$1,958

Avg monthly expenses

$2,178

Avg monthly surplus

$-220

Savings potential

~0%

After-tax take-home in Wisconsin

Gross salary$28,000

Federal income tax− $1,254

State income tax− $1,103

Social Security− $1,736

Medicare− $406

Annual take-home$23,501

Effective tax rate16.07%

How $28,000 feels in Wisconsin cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Milwaukee

COL index: 1.00× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,250

Food

$431

Transport

$175

Utilities

$165

Healthcare

$200

Total: $2,221/mo

Surplus: $-263/mo

Rent burden: 63.8% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Milwaukee analysis →

Madison

COL index: 1.16× national avg

Not recommended

Rent (1BR)

$1,550

Food

$475

Transport

$203

Utilities

$191

Healthcare

$232

Total: $2,651/mo

Surplus: $-693/mo

Rent burden: 79.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Madison analysis →

Green Bay

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$405

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,007/mo

Surplus: $-49/mo

Rent burden: 56.2% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Green Bay analysis →

Kenosha

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$431

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,161/mo

Surplus: $-203/mo

Rent burden: 61.3% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Kenosha analysis →

Racine

COL index: 0.95× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,150

Food

$418

Transport

$166

Utilities

$157

Healthcare

$190

Total: $2,081/mo

Surplus: $-123/mo

Rent burden: 58.7% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Racine analysis →

Appleton

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$405

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,946/mo

Surplus: $12/mo

Rent burden: 53.6% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Appleton analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,958 ($23,496/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$979

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$587

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$392

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$11,748

Wants / year

$7,049

Savings / year

$4,699

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Milwaukee

Rent alone would take 64% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $50,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 2/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $28,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $263, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Milwaukee is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 1.00). $28,000 here is roughly equivalent to $51,800 in San Francisco or $24,640 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$28,000 is 36% below the Wisconsin individual median of $43,900. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$43,900

-36%

State household median

$75,768

-63%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$28,000 vs. Wisconsin income benchmarks

Individual median (Wisconsin)

$43,900

-36% vs. this salary

Household median (Wisconsin)

$75,768

-63% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Wisconsin

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.