Living Cost Compare
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/mo est.

vs
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,060/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $1,060 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Louisville, KY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 3% higher in Louisville, KY. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$707
$786
+11% in Louisville, KY
1 Bedroom
$730
$877
+20% in Louisville, KY
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,096
+15% in Louisville, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,299
+1% in Louisville, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$191,500
$221,500
+16% in Louisville, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$62,546
$64,731
+3% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,940
$48,370
+3% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
37.7 yr
+2.0 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
55.9%
60.6%
+4.7 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.5%
33.4%
+7.9 pp in Louisville, KY
Avg Commute
18.9 min
22.7 min
+3.8 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
501.7
763.4
+52% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
1,331.2
3,536.6
+166% in Louisville, KY

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
44.3°F
58.2°F
+13.9°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
29.5 in
44.9 in
+15.4 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — vs TARC (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
15.0
+24% in Green Bay, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$29.48
+150% in Louisville, KY

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Green Bay, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Louisville, KY
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Green Bay, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Green Bay, WI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Green Bay, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / KY)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
3.50%
+4.2 pp in WI

Green Bay vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Louisville?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Louisville, KY's $1,060, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Louisville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Louisville?
Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).