Cost of living by state
Weighing a move? Compare any two states side by side — cost of living, taxes, and demographics — and see what a physician, NP, or PA salary is really worth once it's adjusted for local prices. Green means cheaper or better; red means pricier or worse.
Overall cost of living
Pennsylvania is 3.7% more expensive overall than Wisconsin.
What a physician's take-home is really worth
Median pay → estimated after-tax take-home → adjusted for each state's cost of living.
Wisconsin
- Median pay
- $364,840
- After tax
- $236,278
$251,092worth here
Pennsylvania
- Median pay
- $237,190
- After tax
- $167,052
$171,160worth here
Take-home is an estimate for a single filer taking the standard deduction (federal + FICA + state income tax, wages only) — not tax advice.
| Metric | Wisconsin | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US avg = 100) | ||
| Overall cost of living | 94.1 | 97.6 |
| Housing (rent) | 79.3 | 85.1 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 109.3 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 99.4 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 99.8 |
| Taxes | ||
| Top income tax rate | 7.65% | 3.07% |
| Sales tax (avg) | 5.70% | 6.34% |
| Property tax (effective) | 1.25% | 1.19% |
| About the state | ||
| Population | 5,892,023 | 12,986,518 |
| Median household income | $75,670 | $76,081 |
| Median age | 40.1 | 40.9 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.90% | 69.30% |
| Median home value | $247,400 | $240,500 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (2024) · U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts · Tax Foundation. Figures are the latest published; cost-of-living is a price-level index, not tax-adjusted take-home pay.
Browse all state profiles
VitalPost shows sourced, public data for context only — it isn't financial or tax advice. Cost-of-living is a price-level index (US average = 100); taxes shown are statewide/averaged and don't capture local income or the specifics of your situation.