2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Wausau, WI vs Rochester, NY

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or is it cheaper to live in Wausau?
- Rochester is 4.6% more expensive than Wausau.

Which city has more affordable housing, Rochester or Wausau?
- Rochester housing costs are 22.9% less expensive than Wausau housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Wausau or is Health Care more affordable in Rochester.
- Health related expenses are 9.2% more in Rochester.
 Wausau, WIRochester, NYUnited States
 Overall  Unlock88.6100
 Food & Groceries91.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock107.3100
 Housing58.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$130,900$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock90.6100
 Miscellaneous116.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Wausau    6 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

I visited Wausau during the summer and it was a very nice change from Phoenix. The people were friendly & helpful. It was a little humid than what I’m used to but  More

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Beautiful area geographically but beneath that beauty are some of the most overly conservative, unfriendly, judgemental people anywhere. Very hard to make friends here  More

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I LIVED IN WAUSAU WI OVER 23 YEARS AGO. I RELOCATED TO WYOMING IN 1990 FOR GOVERMENT POSITION. NOW RETIRED FROM FEDERAL SERVICE, I WILL BE MOVING BACK TO THE UPPER  More

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Reviews for Rochester    79 Reviews

Stay out of the rougher patches, and you'll find a pretty solid city. I live within close proximity to it, and the crime from it DOES rub off on us (auto theft), but  More

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Rochester isn't perfect (I'll detail pros and cons), but it's certainly perfect for me and my husband. We've lived here for 4 years and are getting ready to purchase our  More

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Rochester is a scenic city with so much to offer in terms of things to do and having 4 seasons, except the summer is more like a long spring!! It's a relatively unknown  More

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