City Comparison

Gainesville vs Kenosha

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gainesville

Florida
92
Below Average
$295,000
Median Home
$1,225/mo
Median Rent
$45,600
Median Income

Kenosha

Wisconsin
91
Below Average
$275,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$68,900
Median Income

The Verdict

1.1%

Living in Kenosha costs 1.1% less than Gainesville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $74,185 in Kenosha.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
98
Gainesville
82
Kenosha
Groceries
96
Gainesville
99
Kenosha
Utilities
84
Gainesville
95
Kenosha
Transportation
105
Gainesville
103
Kenosha
Healthcare
94
Gainesville
96
Kenosha

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gainesville has the same purchasing power as $74,185 in Kenosha.

Conversely, $75,000 in Kenosha equals $75,824 in Gainesville.

Living in Gainesville vs Kenosha

Housing Costs

Gainesville's housing index of 98 is higher Kenosha's 82, translating to median home prices of $295,000 vs $275,000. The $20,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,296 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,225/mo in Gainesville compared to $1,250/mo in Kenosha, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Gainesville and 99 in Kenosha. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Gainesville vs $470/month in Kenosha. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 84 in Gainesville and 95 in Kenosha. Monthly utility bills average approximately $336 in Gainesville vs $380 in Kenosha. 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 94 in Gainesville and 96 in Kenosha. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $45,600 in Gainesville and $68,900 in Kenosha. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,565 and $75,714 respectively. Kenosha residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,064/month to housing in Gainesville vs $1,608/month in Kenosha. In Gainesville, median rent of $1,225/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kenosha is 1.1% more affordable overall with an index of 91 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Gainesville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,185 in Kenosha, based on the cost of living difference.
Gainesville's housing index is 98 with median homes at $295,000, while Kenosha's is 82 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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