Kenosha vs Syracuse
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Kenosha
Syracuse
The Verdict
Kenosha is 1.1% less expensive than Syracuse overall. A household earning $75,000 in Kenosha would need approximately $75,824 in Syracuse to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Kenosha has the same purchasing power as $75,824 in Syracuse.
Conversely, $75,000 in Syracuse equals $74,185 in Kenosha.
Living in Kenosha vs Syracuse
Housing Costs
Kenosha's housing index of 82 is higher Syracuse's 69, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $140,000. The $135,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,772 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Kenosha compared to $950/mo in Syracuse, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Kenosha and 101 in Syracuse. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Kenosha vs $480/month in Syracuse. 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 95 in Kenosha and 105 in Syracuse. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kenosha vs $420 in Syracuse. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Kenosha and 100 in Syracuse. 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 $68,900 in Kenosha and $36,708 in Syracuse. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $75,714 and $39,900 respectively. Kenosha residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,608/month to housing in Kenosha vs $857/month in Syracuse. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/mo fits within this budget. In Syracuse, median rent of $950/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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