Wausau, WI at a glance
Median household income
$64,389$5,366 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Wausau, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Wausau, WI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Wausau, WI MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $791 | $9,492 | $31,640 | 14.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $889 | $10,668 | $35,560 | 16.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,147 | $13,764 | $45,880 | 21.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,511 | $18,132 | $60,440 | 28.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,519 | $18,228 | $60,760 | 28.3% |
What a typical income covers in Wausau, WI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $64,389 a year ($5,366 a month before tax).
What $64,389 leaves after Wisconsin taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Wisconsin tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Wisconsin
Living in Wausau, WI: common questions
What is the median household income in Wausau, WI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Wausau, WI is $64,389 per year (approximately $5,366 per month).
What is the average rent in Wausau, WI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $791 for a studio, $889 for one bedroom, $1,147 for two, $1,511 for three and $1,519 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Wausau, WI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 7.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 92.7, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Wausau, WI?
To keep a $1,147 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $45,880 a year, or $3,823 a month. That is 71% of what the typical household in Wausau, WI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Wausau, WI?
On the local median income of $64,389 ($5,366 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,683 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,610 for everything else and $1,073 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,147 takes 43% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Wausau, WI?
Homes in Wisconsin paid 19.6¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $176. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.