Is $55,000 a good salary in Wisconsin?

$55,000 in Wisconsin provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,648 after taxes. Across major Wisconsin cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,470.

What is the cost of living on $55,000 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 $55,000 take-home pay of $3,648/month, you would have roughly $1,470/month remaining.

Living in Wisconsin · 2026

Is $55,000 enough to live in Wisconsin?

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

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,648

Avg monthly expenses

$2,178

Avg monthly surplus

$1,470

Savings potential

~40%

After-tax take-home in Wisconsin

Gross salary$55,000

Federal income tax− $4,494

State income tax− $2,528

Social Security− $3,410

Medicare− $798

Annual take-home$43,770

Effective tax rate20.42%

How $55,000 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

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,250

Food

$431

Transport

$175

Utilities

$165

Healthcare

$200

Total: $2,221/mo

Surplus: $1,427/mo

Rent burden: 34.3% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Milwaukee analysis →

Madison

COL index: 1.16× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,550

Food

$475

Transport

$203

Utilities

$191

Healthcare

$232

Total: $2,651/mo

Surplus: $997/mo

Rent burden: 42.5% — High (35–50%)

Full Madison analysis →

Green Bay

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$405

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,007/mo

Surplus: $1,641/mo

Rent burden: 30.2% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Green Bay analysis →

Kenosha

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$431

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,161/mo

Surplus: $1,487/mo

Rent burden: 32.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Kenosha analysis →

Racine

COL index: 0.95× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,150

Food

$418

Transport

$166

Utilities

$157

Healthcare

$190

Total: $2,081/mo

Surplus: $1,567/mo

Rent burden: 31.5% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Racine analysis →

Appleton

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$405

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,946/mo

Surplus: $1,702/mo

Rent burden: 28.8% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Appleton analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,648 ($43,776/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,824

per month

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

Wants30%

$1,094

per month

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

Savings20%

$730

per month

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

Needs / year

$21,888

Wants / year

$13,133

Savings / year

$8,755

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Milwaukee

Rent takes 34% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 6.7/10 (Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $55,000 salary comfortably supports a good single lifestyle in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately $1,427/month (~39% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Milwaukee is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 1.00). $55,000 here is roughly equivalent to $101,750 in San Francisco or $48,400 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$55,000 is 25% above the Wisconsin individual median ($43,900) and 2% below the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$43,900

+25%

State household median

$75,768

-27%

Tax reduction strategies

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

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$55,000 vs. Wisconsin income benchmarks

Individual median (Wisconsin)

$43,900

+25% vs. this salary

Household median (Wisconsin)

$75,768

-27% 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.