City Comparison

Appleton vs Roseville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Appleton

Wisconsin
88
Below Average
$279,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$80,500
Median Income

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

The Verdict

36.7%

Living in Appleton costs 36.7% less than Roseville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Appleton, you would need $118,466 in Roseville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
91
Appleton
179
Roseville
Groceries
98
Appleton
105
Roseville
Utilities
70
Appleton
163
Roseville
Transportation
79
Appleton
134
Roseville
Healthcare
116
Appleton
106
Roseville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Appleton has the same purchasing power as $118,466 in Roseville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roseville equals $47,482 in Appleton.

Living in Appleton vs Roseville

Housing Costs

Appleton's housing index of 91 is lower Roseville's 179, translating to median home prices of $279,000 vs $625,000. The $346,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,488 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Appleton compared to $2,000/mo in Roseville, a monthly difference of $1,050.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Appleton and 105 in Roseville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Appleton vs $499/month in Roseville. Appleton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 70 in Appleton and 163 in Roseville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $280 in Appleton vs $652 in Roseville. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 116 in Appleton and 106 in Roseville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $80,500 in Appleton and $142,800 in Roseville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $91,477 and $102,734 respectively. Roseville residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,878/month to housing in Appleton vs $3,332/month in Roseville. In Appleton, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 93 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Appleton is 36.7% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Appleton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $118,466 in Roseville, based on the cost of living difference.
Appleton's housing index is 91 with median homes at $279,000, while Roseville's is 179 with median homes at $625,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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