Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,170 in Texas versus $849 in Wisconsin. Overall, Wisconsin runs roughly 27% cheaper on rent than Texas, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $67,043 in Texas and $51,888 in Wisconsin — about 23% higher in Texas. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
6.25%
5%
+1.3 pp in Texas
Income Tax (top rate)
None
7.65%
+7.7 pp in Wisconsin
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,170
$849
+27% in Texas
Median Home Value
$264,900
$172,000
+35% in Texas
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$67,043
$51,888
+23% in Texas
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
67.2°F
47.9°F
+19.3°F in Texas
Texas vs Wisconsin — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Texas or Wisconsin?
- Wisconsin is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $849 runs about 27% below Texas's $1,170, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Texas than in Wisconsin?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Texas versus $34,000 in Wisconsin.
- Which has lower taxes, Texas or Wisconsin?
- Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 8/1 cities we track in Texas/Wisconsin — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.