Cost of Living in Green Bay
Green Bay's cost-of-living picture runs genuinely affordable relative to national benchmarks: a cost-of-living index of 75 (25% below the U.S. average, per one aggregator), housing prices well below the national median across every cited source, and Wisconsin's real absence of any local piggyback income tax layer on top of the state's own 4-bracket schedule.
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Learn moreA Genuinely Low Cost-of-Living Index Relative to the National Average
One aggregator cites Green Bay's cost-of-living index at 75, approximately 25% below the U.S. average, with everyday expenses running roughly 20% below the national average per a second figure. Housing specifically was cited as running approximately 16% cheaper than the U.S. average, and healthcare services approximately 12% cheaper.
Housing Is Genuinely Affordable Across Every Cited Source
As detailed on the housing-market topic page, Green Bay's citywide home prices run genuinely well below the national median across every source reviewed this pass: Zillow's average value ran $289,378, Houzeo's median ran $260,000, and Redfin's median sold price ran $330,000 -- a real, disclosed spread, but genuinely affordable regardless of which figure is used.
Rent Runs Genuinely Affordable, Though Neighborhood Choice Matters Substantially
As detailed on the renting topic page, Green Bay one-bedroom rent clustered between approximately $945 and $1,169 across four sources reviewed in 2026 -- genuinely below many metros covered elsewhere in this project, though rent varies nearly 3x by specific neighborhood (Eastside ~$536 to Downtown ~$1,550).
Brown County Property Tax Runs Genuinely Elevated, Offsetting Some of the Affordability
As detailed in full on the property-taxes topic page, Brown County's own effective property tax rate ran approximately 1.40% -- consistent with Wisconsin's genuinely, consistently elevated statewide profile, a real, disclosed cost that partially offsets Green Bay's otherwise-affordable housing prices.
No Local Income Tax Layer Is a Real, Genuine Simplification
As detailed on the taxes topic page, Wisconsin has NO local or county piggyback income tax layer on top of its real 4-bracket state schedule (3.50%-7.65%) -- a genuine relocation-relevant simplification versus states like Maryland covered elsewhere in this project, where a local layer can meaningfully raise the effective rate.
Key takeaways
- Green Bay's cost-of-living index runs approximately 75, 25% below the U.S. average, per one aggregator -- a genuinely affordable market relative to national benchmarks.
- Housing runs genuinely well below the national median across every cited source: Zillow's average value ran $289,378, up to Redfin's $330,000 median sold price.
- One-bedroom rent clustered between approximately $945 and $1,169 across four 2026 sources, though it varies nearly 3x by specific neighborhood.
- Brown County's own property tax rate runs a genuinely elevated ~1.40% effective rate, consistent with Wisconsin's statewide profile.
- Wisconsin has NO local piggyback income tax layer on top of its 4-bracket state schedule -- a genuine, disclosed simplification.
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