Moving to Wisconsin from Pennsylvania
What to Expect
Considering a move from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, you would find that Wisconsin is 1.3% cheaper than Pennsylvania. A $75,000 salary in Pennsylvania would need to be roughly $70,292 in Wisconsin to maintain the same lifestyle. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. What does your salary buy? $75,000 → $70,292 To maintain the same standard of living in Wisconsin How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 0.8% more Groceries pay 13.0% less Transportation pay 7.9% less Housing pay 9.6% less Childcare pay 19.2% more Entertainment and Sports pay 0.5% 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. The numbers behind daily life in Wisconsin compared to Pennsylvania. incidents per 100,000 people per year incidents per 100,000 people per year Pennsylvania generally does better on safety, though Wisconsin leads in property crime rate. share of people without health insurance share of adults with obesity share of adults with diabetes share of adults who smoke Wisconsin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Pennsylvania leads in adult obesity rate. typical price of a home typical monthly gross rent share of homes that are owner-occupied Pennsylvania generally does better on what about housing?, though Wisconsin leads in median rent. share of households with internet minutes each way to work Wisconsin performs significantly better than Pennsylvania across all infrastructure metrics. 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania generally does better on family life, though Wisconsin leads in life expectancy. 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: On average Wisconsin is about 6% less expensive than Pennsylvania, with major cities narrowing the gap. Budget about $17,573 for 3 months in Wisconsin (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit. Pennsylvania generally does better on safety, though Wisconsin leads in property crime rate. Wisconsin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Pennsylvania leads in adult obesity rate. The average high temperature in Madison is 56°F, compared to 61°F in Harrisburg. Madison receives around 34.5 in of rainfall per year, while Harrisburg gets 43.6 in. How Far Will Your Money Go?
Key Indicator Comparison
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Harrisburg Madison Jan–Mar 42°/25°F (5°/-4°C) 33°/17°F (1°/-8°C) Apr–Jun 71°/50°F (22°/10°C) 68°/46°F (20°/8°C) Jul–Sep 81°/61°F (27°/16°C) 78°/57°F (25°/14°C) Oct–Dec 52°/34°F (11°/1°C) 44°/28°F (7°/-2°C) View all months
Month Harrisburg Madison Jan 36°/21°F (2.5°/-5.9°C) 26°/11°F (-3.1°/-11.6°C) Feb 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.1°C) 31°/15°F (-0.5°/-9.4°C) Mar 49°/30°F (9.3°/-0.9°C) 43°/25°F (6.2°/-4.0°C) Apr 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) 57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C) May 72°/50°F (22.2°/10.1°C) 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) Jun 81°/60°F (27.2°/15.5°C) 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.4°C) Jul 85°/64°F (29.2°/17.8°C) 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) Aug 83°/63°F (28.2°/17.0°C) 79°/59°F (26.3°/15.0°C) Sep 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.8°C) 72°/50°F (22.1°/10.1°C) Oct 63°/42°F (17.4°/5.6°C) 59°/39°F (14.9°/3.8°C) Nov 52°/35°F (11.1°/1.6°C) 44°/28°F (6.7°/-2.1°C) Dec 40°/26°F (4.4°/-3.2°C) 30°/16°F (-1.0°/-8.9°C) 
National Weather Service Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Wisconsin than Pennsylvania?
How much money do I need to move to Wisconsin?
Is Wisconsin safe?
How is healthcare in Wisconsin compared to Pennsylvania?
What's the weather like in Wisconsin compared to Pennsylvania?
