WisconsinMoney Index August 2026
"Cheese, lakes, sensible savings."
Wisconsin — Money Index — Key Facts
- The Short Answer. Wisconsin is a balanced state for money — solid midwest, mid tax.
- Wisconsin Quirk. Wisconsin's solid midwest, mid tax shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences.
- Business Climate: 7/10. Wisconsin scores 7/10 on business climate with 6/10 for remote work — moderate runway for entrepreneurs.
- Affordability: 7/10. Wisconsin sits in the middle of the affordability pack (7/10).
- Inflation Resilience: 6/10. Wisconsin scores 6/10 on inflation resilience — middle of the national pack.
- Midwest Money Profile. Wisconsin sits in the Midwest — and its personality is "The Steady Hand". Middle-of-the-pack on most factors — a balanced base for long-horizon wealth.
- Tax Friendliness: 4/10. Wisconsin's state income-tax burden (4/10) is middle-of-the-pack — not a haven, not punitive.
- Retirement: 6/10. Wisconsin is workable for retirees (6/10) but not at the top of the pack.
- Banking Access: 7/10. Wisconsin scores 7/10 on banking access — fine for everyday accounts, worth shopping online HYSA rates to beat local offers.
- Remote Work: 6/10. Wisconsin scores 6/10 for remote work — solid but not stand-out.
Wisconsin is a balanced state for money — solid midwest, mid tax.
On our 1-10 money scorecards, Wisconsin ranks 4/10 on tax friendliness, 7/10 on cost of living, and 6/10 on retirement — placing it #35 of 50 states overall.
How Wisconsin scores across the board
Seven dimensions of household finance, scored 1-10. Higher is better in every category.
Money personality: The Steady Hand
Middle-of-the-pack on most factors — a balanced base for long-horizon wealth.
Four Wisconsin money truths
Wisconsin's state income tax burden (4/10) is middle-of-the-pack — not a tax haven, not punitive.
Cost of living scores 7/10 — Wisconsin sits in the middle of the affordability pack.
Retirement friendliness 6/10 — workable for retirees but not at the top of the pack.
Business climate 7/10 with 6/10 for remote work — moderate runway for entrepreneurs and laptop-class earners.
"Wisconsin's solid midwest, mid tax shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences."
Money lessons from Wisconsin
- 1
State tax policy is part of your investment strategy — not just where you live
Find your next account
Compare the best savings, checking, business and CD rates — all ranked monthly, all in one place.
Explore financial categories
← Swipe to explore →
Wisconsin money FAQ
Is Wisconsin a good state for keeping your money?+
Wisconsin scores 43 on our composite money index, with a the steady hand profile. Wisconsin is a balanced state for money — solid midwest, mid tax.
What is the state income tax in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin's state income tax burden is roughly in the middle of the pack. On our 1-10 tax-friendliness scale (10 = no income tax), Wisconsin scores 4.
Is Wisconsin good for retirement?+
Wisconsin scores 6/10 on retirement friendliness, factoring in tax treatment of Social Security and pension income, healthcare costs, and overall affordability for fixed-income households.
Is Wisconsin good for business owners and remote workers?+
Wisconsin scores 7/10 on business climate and 6/10 on remote-work suitability — covering tax incentives, talent pools, infrastructure and cost of doing business.
How affordable is Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin scores 7/10 on cost of living (10 = cheapest). Combined with 6/10 inflation resilience, that shapes how far paychecks stretch here.
What money personality fits Wisconsin?+
The Steady Hand — Middle-of-the-pack on most factors — a balanced base for long-horizon wealth.
What's surprising about money in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin's solid midwest, mid tax shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences.
