Moving to Wisconsin from California
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from California to Wisconsin — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from California to Wisconsin, you would find that Wisconsin is 14.1% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly $57,600 in Wisconsin to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Madison averages 56°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler. What to expect for your wallet after moving from California to Wisconsin. What does your salary buy? $75,000 → $57,600 To maintain the same standard of living in Wisconsin Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day Restaurants pay 14.2% less Groceries pay 16.4% less Transportation pay 17.0% less Housing pay 30.9% less Childcare pay 3.3% more Entertainment and Sports pay 19.8% less Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources. Key indicators for anyone considering a move from California to Wisconsin. incidents per 100,000 people per year incidents per 100,000 people per year Wisconsin performs significantly better than California across all safety metrics. share of people without health insurance share of adults with obesity share of adults with diabetes share of adults who smoke California generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Wisconsin leads in uninsured rate. typical price of a home typical monthly gross rent share of homes that are owner-occupied Wisconsin performs significantly better than California across all what about housing? metrics. share of households with internet minutes each way to work California generally does better on infrastructure, though Wisconsin leads in average commute. percentage of the labour force without work a broad measure of economic output per person typical annual income of a household share of people below the poverty line California generally does better on employment & economy, though Wisconsin leads in unemployment rate. average years of life at birth share of adults with a 4-year college degree California performs better than Wisconsin across all family life metrics. Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: Yes — Wisconsin is on average about 23% cheaper than California. City-level variation can be significant. Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $14,400 in Wisconsin on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit). Wisconsin performs significantly better than California across all safety metrics. California generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Wisconsin leads in uninsured rate. The average high temperature in Madison is 56°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Madison receives around 34.5 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in. How Far Will Your Money Go?
Key Indicator Comparison
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Sacramento Madison Jan–Mar 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) 33°/17°F (1°/-8°C) Apr–Jun 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) 68°/46°F (20°/8°C) Jul–Sep 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) 78°/57°F (25°/14°C) Oct–Dec 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) 44°/28°F (7°/-2°C) View all months
Month Sacramento Madison Jan 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) 26°/11°F (-3.1°/-11.6°C) Feb 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) 31°/15°F (-0.5°/-9.4°C) Mar 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) 43°/25°F (6.2°/-4.0°C) Apr 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) 57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C) May 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) Jun 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.4°C) Jul 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) Aug 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) 79°/59°F (26.3°/15.0°C) Sep 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) 72°/50°F (22.1°/10.1°C) Oct 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) 59°/39°F (14.9°/3.8°C) Nov 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) 44°/28°F (6.7°/-2.1°C) Dec 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) 30°/16°F (-1.0°/-8.9°C) 
National Weather Service Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Wisconsin than California?
How much money do I need to move to Wisconsin?
Is Wisconsin safe?
How is healthcare in Wisconsin compared to California?
What's the weather like in Wisconsin compared to California?
