Cost of Living in Green Bay, WI
Green Bay is about 20% cheaper than the national average.
What Things Cost
Compared to the US average (100)
Census ACS 2024
Census ACS 2024
BEA RPP 2023
BEA RPP 2023
Green Bay at a Glance
On the median income of $65,820, state income tax is roughly $5,035/year.
Sources: Census ACS 2024, Tax Foundation.
Green Bay is the smallest city in America with a major professional sports franchise, and the Packers define everything. Lambeau Field is a pilgrimage site. The cost of living is about 11.5% below the national average, with housing roughly 23% below. The paper and packaging industry has been the traditional economic base, with healthcare growing. The bay itself provides waterfront recreation. For sports fans who want small-city living at bargain prices, Green Bay is singular.
Who Lives Here
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Why People Move to Green Bay
The Packers are publicly owned (the only major pro sports team structured this way) and the community's emotional center. Lambeau Field game days are a bucket-list experience. The bay provides boating, fishing, and waterfront parks. Healthcare (Bellin Health, HSHS) is the growing employment sector. The cost of homeownership is genuinely accessible on modest incomes.
Neighborhoods
Downtown has been revitalized near the CityDeck on the Fox River. Astor Park is the established historic neighborhood. De Pere (south) has St. Norbert College and a walkable downtown. Bellevue and Howard are suburban growth areas. For affordable options, the east and west sides of the city offer the lowest prices.
Things to Consider
Wisconsin's 7.65% top income tax and 1.68% property taxes are above average. The city is small (107,000) with a limited job market outside paper/packaging and healthcare. Winter is brutally cold and long (colder than Milwaukee due to the northern location). Cultural diversity is limited. The Packers consume civic attention to a degree that may surprise newcomers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Green Bay
Football is the dominant cultural force, but Green Bay has a genuine community beyond Lambeau Field. The bay and Fox River provide outdoor recreation. Downtown has invested in walkability and dining. The paper industry provides manufacturing jobs. Healthcare is growing. But yes, the Packers are the center of gravity.
Very cold. January averages about 25°F high and 10°F low. Wind chill values below minus 20 are common. Snow averages 50+ inches per year. The Frozen Tundra nickname for Lambeau Field is earned honestly. The cold season runs November through March.
Very. About 11.5% below the national average. Median homes at $246,300 make homeownership accessible on modest incomes. A household earning $55,000 can own a home and live comfortably. Wisconsin's above-average taxes are the main financial caveat.