Cost of Living: Tennessee vs Wisconsin
Wisconsin is cheaper for a single adult by about $74/month, mainly driven by rent.
Comparison at a glance
- Monthly difference$74/moWisconsin saves vs Tennessee
- Housing difference$150/moWisconsin cheaper on 1BR rent
- Grocery difference$17/moTennessee has a lighter basket
- Equivalent salary≈ $77,000$75,000 in Wisconsin → Tennessee
- Cheaper overallWisconsin~2% lower single-adult budget
- Affordability winnerWisconsinLower combined rent + essentials
Side-by-side single-adult budget
The big differences between Tennessee and Wisconsin come down to rent and tax. Groceries, transport, and utilities are usually within 10–15%; housing can swing the total by hundreds of dollars per month.
Cost of Living Verdict
Six quick takes on where Tennessee and Wisconsin actually pull ahead.
- Cheaper overallTie
Tennessee and Wisconsin have similar single-adult monthly totals.
- Better housing affordabilityWisconsin
Average 1BR rent is $1,200 vs $1,350.
- Better for familiesTie
Family-of-four budgets land in the same ballpark.
- Better for retireesTie
Healthcare, rent, and tax pressure are comparable for fixed-income retirees.
- Better for remote workersTennessee
Tennessee has a lower cost index (90 vs 94), so an out-of-state salary stretches further.
- Better purchasing powerWisconsin
Wisconsin has a stronger median-income-to-cost ratio — local wages cover more of the typical basket.
What this difference means in practice
The headline gap broken into the four buckets that actually move household budgets.
- Housing impact
Wisconsin is roughly 13% cheaper on housing (~$150/mo less than Tennessee) — compounds quickly across a year.
- Daily spending
Tennessee runs about 4% cheaper on groceries than Wisconsin — noticeable, but not a deciding factor on its own.
- Transport & utilities
Tennessee runs about 4% cheaper on transport + utilities than Wisconsin — noticeable, but not a deciding factor on its own.
- Lifestyle
Tennessee runs about 4% cheaper on lifestyle (dining + extras) than Wisconsin — noticeable, but not a deciding factor on its own.
Purchasing power snapshot
Which region stretches a dollar further, category by category.
- Housingmoderate advantageWisconsin
Wisconsin is the cheaper place to rent or own.
- Groceriesslight advantageTennessee
Weekly grocery basket is lighter in Tennessee.
- Utilitiesslight advantageTennessee
Lower monthly utility load in Tennessee.
- Transportslight advantageTennessee
Cheaper commuting overall in Tennessee.
- Healthcareslight advantageTennessee
Lower out-of-pocket healthcare in Tennessee.
- Lifestyleslight advantageTennessee
Dining, entertainment, and extras are cheaper in Tennessee.
Who benefits more?
The same comparison reads very differently depending on the household.
- FamiliesTie
Family budgets are similar in both regions.
- SinglesTie
Single-adult monthly totals are close.
- RetireesTie
Housing, healthcare, and tax pressure look similar.
- Remote workersTennessee
An out-of-state salary stretches further in Tennessee thanks to a lower cost index.
- StudentsWisconsin
Lower rent and commuting costs make Wisconsin easier on a tight student budget.
- High earnersTennessee
Tennessee blends a more efficient tax load with stronger local incomes.
Equivalent lifestyle salary
How much you'd need in Tennessee to match the lifestyle a given salary buys in Wisconsin.
needed in Tennessee for the same lifestyle.
needed in Tennessee for the same lifestyle.
needed in Tennessee for the same lifestyle.
Housing affordability
Wisconsin is noticeably more affordable on rent — about $150/mo cheaper for a 1BR.
Ownership affordability follows the same shape: lower rents typically signal more attainable mortgage payments at similar incomes.
Category-by-category
| Category | Tennessee | Wisconsin | Lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR rent) | $1,350 | $1,200 | Wisconsin |
| Groceries | $378 | $395 | Tennessee |
| Utilities | $176 | $183 | Tennessee |
| Transportation | $432 | $451 | Tennessee |
| Healthcare | $288 | $301 | Tennessee |
| Top income tax | 0.0% | 0.1% | Tied |
| Lifestyle (dining + extras) | $450 | $470 | Tennessee |
Comparison FAQ
- Is Tennessee more expensive than Wisconsin?
- Tennessee and Wisconsin cost about the same per month for a single adult.
- How much salary do I need to move from Wisconsin to Tennessee?
- If $100,000 supports your lifestyle in Wisconsin, you'd need roughly $102,500 in Tennessee to maintain the same purchasing power.
- Which region offers better affordability?
- Wisconsin comes out lower on the combined single-adult budget — about $74/mo cheaper than Tennessee.
- Is housing significantly cheaper in one of them?
- Wisconsin is noticeably more affordable on rent — about $150/mo cheaper for a 1BR.
- Can a remote worker benefit from moving?
- Both regions land close on cost index and tax — relocation arbitrage is modest for remote workers.
- What income is considered comfortable in Tennessee?
- Roughly $58,000/yr gross typically supports a comfortable single-adult lifestyle in Tennessee, leaving room for savings on top of monthly costs.
Related cost-of-living comparisons
- Tennessee vs Kentucky cost of living
- Tennessee vs Virginia cost of living
- Tennessee vs North Carolina cost of living
- Tennessee vs Georgia cost of living
- Tennessee vs Alabama cost of living
- Tennessee vs Mississippi cost of living
- Tennessee vs Arkansas cost of living
- Tennessee vs Missouri cost of living
- Wisconsin vs Minnesota cost of living
- Wisconsin vs Iowa cost of living
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These estimates are approximate and may vary by city, taxes, rent, family size, and personal spending. Use them as a starting point, not a substitute for personalised financial or tax advice.