Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Waukesha, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Waukesha, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,861 in Athens versus $2,020 in Waukesha, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,836 in Athens versus $2,928 in Waukesha, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,811 in Athens versus $3,835 in Waukesha, WI.

Living in Athens costs roughly 8% less than in Waukesha, WI, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 36% above, Waukesha, WI 48% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.09 €14.90
$17.13 $17.13
-0.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4 €60.5
$68.6 $68.6
1.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 €10.25
$11.01 $11.01
6.72%
Cappuccino
$4.24 €3.69
$5.15 $5.15
-17.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.53
$2.94 $2.94
-1.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 €0.52
$2.03 $2.03
-70.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.62 €4.90
$5.97 $5.97
-5.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95 €5.18
$7.60 $7.60
-21.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 €1.63
$0.88 $0.88
112.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 €1.24
$3.30 $3.30
-56.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 €2.49
$4.47 $4.47
-36.02%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.21
$3.58 $3.58
34.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.51 €13.52
$8.90 $8.90
74.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.02 €9.61
$11.44 $11.44
-3.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.35 €16.87
$16.66 $16.66
16.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 €1.93
$5.29 $5.29
-58.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 €1.81
$1.74 $1.74
19.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.41 €1.23
$3.46 $3.46
-59.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.92
$5.25 $5.25
-57.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 €0.98
$1.73 $1.73
-35.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 €1.07
$2.60 $2.60
-53.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 €1.05
$1.60 $1.60
-24.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.76
$1.84 $1.84
-52.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.93 €5.17
$8.60 $8.60
-31.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.56 €9.21
$11.13 $11.13
-5.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 €1.85
$1.68 $1.68
26.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 €2.38
$3.64 $3.64
-25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Waukesha, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 €1.22
$1.95 $1.95
-28.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.55 €27.50
$49.50 $49.50
-36.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.72 €4.12
$2.82 $2.82
67.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 €0.90
$1.65 $1.65
-37.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.61 €15.35
$20.77 $20.77
-15.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 €2.06
$0.95 $0.95
148.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K €25.4K
$24.2K $24.2K
20.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K €24.8K
$25.3K $25.3K
12.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 €188
$201 $201
7.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.29 €23.79
$51.5 $51.5
-46.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.08 €27.09
$60.3 $60.3
-48.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 €47.24
$49.77 $49.77
8.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.30 €23.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.47 €9.12
$14.47 $14.47
-27.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €529
$1,499 $1,499
-59.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K €11.7K
$23.8K $23.8K
-43.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7 €79.9
$55.2 $55.2
65.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.97 €36.58
$44.04 $44.04
-4.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €90.8
$87.5 $87.5
18.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 €114
$76.1 $76.1
72.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Waukesha, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 €664
$997 $997
-23.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$661 €576
$790 $790
-16.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,365 €1,190
$1,605 $1,605
-14.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 €1,040
$1,220 $1,220
-2.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,927 €3,423
$2,222 $2,222
76.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,314 €2,889
$2,210 $2,210
49.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,299 €1,132
$4,291 $4,291
-69.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.37
6.16
-29.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Athens: September 14, 2026

Last update for Waukesha, WI: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $761 in Athens and $997 in Waukesha, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Waukesha, WI pays 230% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $69.0 in Athens vs $69.0 in Waukesha, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $362 per month, with Athens cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Athens vs Waukesha, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Waukesha, WI?
Athens wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Waukesha, WI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Athens the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Waukesha, WI?
On paper, salaries run 230% lower in Waukesha, WI. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Waukesha, WI?
Rent for a central apartment: $761 in Athens versus $997 in Waukesha, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Waukesha, WI?
Dining out is cheaper in Athens – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $69.0 in Waukesha, WI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Waukesha, WI?
All in, you'll spend $1,861 per month in Athens versus $2,020 in Waukesha, WI – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Athens or in Waukesha, WI?
At $1,861 in Athens versus $2,020 in Waukesha, WI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Athens but tight or insufficient in Waukesha, WI. The gap between the two cities makes Athens the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Waukesha, WI?
Both work as nomad bases, but Athens delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,861 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Athens hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Waukesha, WI?
Safety-wise, Athens and Waukesha, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Athens gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Waukesha, WI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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